1 week ago
Nov 20, 2008
Quote of the day!!!
"Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.”
Nov 18, 2008
Come and join us!!!
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52429368744
I'm organizing a swap:
To sign up just click on the link at the top and come and join in at the Facebook Group - Addicted to ATC's...We'd love to have you join us!!! Beginners welcome, Feel free to ask questions there and find out all about swapping ATC's!!
I'm organizing a swap:
Many of us have not had a great year and will be very glad to see the back of 2008...I know I for one can not WAIT for 2009 to start!!!
To celebrate, I'd like to hold a New Year/ Welcome to 2009 themed ATC swap!!!
Because this time of year is busy, you will make just one atc for each participant, but feel free to go overboard and glam it up with all the glitz you want for the New Year - have a party on paper ;)
Sign up by December 1st and atc's, self addressed envelope need to be to me by Dec 15th so I can have them returned to you all in time for New Year - giving plenty of time for all the Christmas mail slowness!
There are less than the normal number of atc's so I'm not sure how much postage will be - I guess it depends how many we get signing up!
To sign up just click on the link at the top and come and join in at the Facebook Group - Addicted to ATC's...We'd love to have you join us!!! Beginners welcome, Feel free to ask questions there and find out all about swapping ATC's!!
Changing plans...
Plans keep changing on me - this past weekend all my plans got changed and now today all my plans have changed. Sam ended up being sick all night so Lloyd has taken the day off to take Chris to his dental appointments. Chris has to have two teeth extracted today - and he can NOT miss the appointment because he's on a schedule and has to have two MORE extracted next week and then the following week has to have his braces fitted at the orthodontist so if he misses todays appointment the whole schedule is messed up. So I stay home with Sam who is sick and has to miss Pre-K, and Lloyd is taking Chris to his appointment.
Wall-E comes out on dvd today and Lloyd wants to pick it up. we are disagreeing on whether we should watch it today or put it away for Christmas. I think it should be put away for Sam for Christmas. Lloyd says we should watch it TODAY. I was going to win. But now Sam is sick I KNOW I will lose. Sigh......
So Lloyd is off on Friday too which makes this a three day week. And last week was a four day week....so thats nice.
So I am stuck at home today instead of my very busy day that I did have planned - rushing about in town and getting some Christmas shopping done as well as the dental appointments and taking Sam to Pre-K, and dance and library tonight..
So on my to do list today instead:
address and package up all the packages and Christmas cards to go to the UK as they all have to go next week.
Package up the next set of packages to go to the girls we sponsor.
continue my writing course work - some of which you saw yesterday in a blog post ;)
Start my nature atc's for the addicted to atc group swap
This of course is as well as snuggling up with a sick little boy while his Daddy is out - when Daddy is home he just wants Daddy!
Wall-E comes out on dvd today and Lloyd wants to pick it up. we are disagreeing on whether we should watch it today or put it away for Christmas. I think it should be put away for Sam for Christmas. Lloyd says we should watch it TODAY. I was going to win. But now Sam is sick I KNOW I will lose. Sigh......
So Lloyd is off on Friday too which makes this a three day week. And last week was a four day week....so thats nice.
So I am stuck at home today instead of my very busy day that I did have planned - rushing about in town and getting some Christmas shopping done as well as the dental appointments and taking Sam to Pre-K, and dance and library tonight..
So on my to do list today instead:
address and package up all the packages and Christmas cards to go to the UK as they all have to go next week.
Package up the next set of packages to go to the girls we sponsor.
continue my writing course work - some of which you saw yesterday in a blog post ;)
Start my nature atc's for the addicted to atc group swap
This of course is as well as snuggling up with a sick little boy while his Daddy is out - when Daddy is home he just wants Daddy!
Nov 17, 2008
Things I like...
(Taken from Jennifers blog):
I love love LOVE The Twilight books.....in fact I love Twilight ANYTHING....but then you already knew that RIGHT?????? lol. 4 days until I see the movie :) In fact in 4 days I will have seen the movie now :) OMG I'm like sooo excited I could scream like a 12 year old :) I'm pathetic, what can I say......
Right now I'm loving the song that I added a couple of posts down and that they use on the TLC channel to advertise 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' and 'Little People Big World'.
I love nibbling Sun Rypes Fruit Source Mini Bites....they're like little wine gums but they're all fruit and veg so they're actually GOOD FOR YOU!!! You can eat 23 of them for 130 calories!!!!! OMG!!! And they're so juicy and yummy!!! And yet they count towards your portions of fruit and veg!!!
Avenue magazine...Edmontons wonderful lifestyle magazine. It's free and can be found in grocery stores and at the mall etc but its full of great articles and reviews about our city :)
Martha Stewart writing pens - Jessica Sprague who is teaching my writing course recommended these pens and I have to agree - they are wonderful - they come in lovely colours and are just really great to write with!
My mail box - because its full of such fun mail since I joined Swapbot and Facebooks group: 'Addicted to Atc's'.....
Waking up in mid November on mornings when it is above freezing and where there is NO snow :)
What things do YOU like at the moment?
I love love LOVE The Twilight books.....in fact I love Twilight ANYTHING....but then you already knew that RIGHT?????? lol. 4 days until I see the movie :) In fact in 4 days I will have seen the movie now :) OMG I'm like sooo excited I could scream like a 12 year old :) I'm pathetic, what can I say......
Right now I'm loving the song that I added a couple of posts down and that they use on the TLC channel to advertise 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' and 'Little People Big World'.
I love nibbling Sun Rypes Fruit Source Mini Bites....they're like little wine gums but they're all fruit and veg so they're actually GOOD FOR YOU!!! You can eat 23 of them for 130 calories!!!!! OMG!!! And they're so juicy and yummy!!! And yet they count towards your portions of fruit and veg!!!
Avenue magazine...Edmontons wonderful lifestyle magazine. It's free and can be found in grocery stores and at the mall etc but its full of great articles and reviews about our city :)
Martha Stewart writing pens - Jessica Sprague who is teaching my writing course recommended these pens and I have to agree - they are wonderful - they come in lovely colours and are just really great to write with!
My mail box - because its full of such fun mail since I joined Swapbot and Facebooks group: 'Addicted to Atc's'.....
Waking up in mid November on mornings when it is above freezing and where there is NO snow :)
What things do YOU like at the moment?
Cairo and Grayson...
On their blanket in the mudroom....like two old grumpy men sat there together.....
Random questions....
What are the last 5 stores you shopped at and what for?
Safeway for a pizza and salad and Oprah magazine yesterday. On Saturday at Home Depot for a new door for the mudroom. Michaels for a crocheting kit and ribbon. Please Mum for pants for Sam. People magazine in Safeway (I wanted to read about the Obamas since winning the Presidency but the whole issue is excellent by the way!!!) and a few groceries on Saturday.
What is changing in your life right now?
My home is changing as we are having major renovations done. I am changing as I have lost 50lbs this year and have had my hair go from long to VERY short. My friendships have changed greatly in the last year or so and I have had some new and wonderful friendships start in recent months and have grown closer to friends that were already in my life. I have also come to realise that effort that I was putting in to some friendships was not being returned in a way that I needed. As hard as this was to face I needed to face this. I also finally saw someone for who they really were and removed them from my life. I feel better for having their games out of my life.
My interests have changed. Our plans for the future change with the volatile economy and remain flexible. Our family will change in the new year when our Nephew joins us. Abigail started school in the Fall and was diagnosed with OCD and tourettes. Sam is now in Pre-K two afternoons a week and I have a lot more time to myself.
My life is changing as my children are getting older as I develop new interests and as Lloyd and I get much more time for ourselves. I'm still not sure what I want to DO yet...I know I want to do more voluntary work....but I'm not sure where or how or when...although I think I have an idea.....Maybe after Christmas when Sam is back in Pre-K I could spend those afternoons volunteering.....
What is your usual order at Tim Hortons and at McDonalds?
At Timmys my order is either a mediium double double and a twelve grain bagel double toasted with butter (of which I will eat only the top half) OR I will order a croissant and jam with a double double but I can only drink half a double double. If I'm in there for dinner then I will order a soup like a hearty vegetable or chicken and rice or whatever!.....Thats my order.....
At McDonalds I always order the same thing. A happy meal with a hamburger. I give half my fries to Lloyd because i don't like the fries much and I have a diet coke. I get the toy which I give to whichever child behaves best! If I deserve a treat I will get a fruit pie!!! YUM!!!! :)
Name five things that are in your refrigerator right now?
strawberries, orange juice, pilsbury fudge brownie dough, defrosting skinless chicken breasts for tomorrow, lean ground beef for tonights cottage pie.
What was the best trip you ever took? Why do you consider it the best?
Although our Disney holidays were fantastic, when I think of wonderful holidays, I still think of Canmore this Summer. The sad thing is, that Susannah and Laurence weren't there, but apart from that, that week away was just so perfect. It was what a 'holiday' should be! It was a just so completely relaxing! We did nothing but relax. We swam in the pool, relaxed by the lake, fished, ate out, watched movies in the condo and just rested. It was only a few hours from home, nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and was just heavenly. I have such wonderful memories of stress free days - Abigail feeding the gophers, Sams face catching that first fish! swimming in the dark! And Sam asked for so long after if we could pac up our things and move to 'the house with the sliding door and the pool and the hot tub'........
List 10 experiences in your life that you’re thankful for?
In no particular order:
1. Living in Scotland for a while and getting to see that beautiful country and learning about it's history and meeting some of it's people! Loch Ness, Edinburgh Castle, George Street, Browns, Stirling, and all of the other places we toured and visited.
2. Living with/Being married to someone from a totally different background and culture for 12 years and being able to experience New York City, Brooklyn, Calypso, Caribbean music and foods and having my 3 oldest children because of that.
3. My training as a psychiatric nurse and my training as a counselor..my time in the womens centre in Blackburn, counseling and ANY work I've done counseling whether with friends or voluntarily since. I may not have worked in a VERY long time but I don't think ANY of my training was wasted. It seems not a month goes by without me needing to utilise my skills in one way or another and so I am very grateful that I have that training. Even my time in the Methadone clinic and addictions unit - the heroin centre - as much as I did NOT enjoy my time there and still do not think that that program worked, I do think I gained a lot form going there. Even if it was only to know that I CAN be brave enough to walk through the door!
4. Going to Herblay, France when it was twinned with our home town. I went with a group of teens from my home town, including Louise (my school friend who sometimes reads my blog and who is on Facebook with me) and with a couple of adults. we went in a minibus on the ferry across the English channel and drove down to Herblay which is a town in the suburbs of Paris. I stayed with a French family there who were very welcoming - the Meron family. They had two daughters Laurence and Sandrine. I didn't speak very good French but that didn't stop me having SUCH a great time! To be honest our teachers didn't keep a very good eye on us and we were left to our own devices a lot of the time and we had a great time - we were left to roam Paris and Herblay on OUR OWN!!! I remember having hot chocolate and croissants in an outdoor cafe on top of this glamorous department store....overlooking the Eiffel Tower...and buying a scarf from a street seller...and then ending up in a seedy area and having these old seedy looking guys looking at us....Oh and then on the way home the boys we were with had bought fireworks and stuffed them into the seats of the minibus but they got caught!!!! and all got in trouble on the ferry! I've been to France twice and the two trips are a little muddled in my head....on one trip I stayed with a family who lived above a horse meat shop that they owned. I went to school with one family as it was part of the French Exchange programme at school. We visited the Bayeux Tapestry and the Palace of Versaille as well as the sites of Paris....I didn't eat horse meat though - they gave me artichoke hearts instead ;) I'm a little more adventurous in my eating habits these days :)
5. Keeping bees. I don't know if my bees will make it through the Winter. If they don't make it through the winter I don't know if we will order new packages next year - we WILL get new packages once we are SURE we know where will be staying long term, but maybe not NEXT year...but I do know that we LOVED having them THIS year and all that we learned from them...just spending time with them and around them...learning from these amazing insects- how they live as a community together, working together for the better of the hive and their Queen. Seeing babies being born...watching Sam delving in for the honey. Seeing children come here who are scared of bees and yet seeing them get closer and closer to the hive and then putting their hands in and sticking their fingers amongst the bees to taste honey and then going back for more no longer afraid! Rescuing the sticky drunk bees with Lloyd.....rescuing the bees from the workshop...the excitement of catching my first swarm!!! All in all it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget and would never have wanted to miss and even if I don't do it again this coming year I WILL do it again - I soooo hope the bees make it through!
6. Taking the gamble to leave my Ex and go and stay with Lloyd almost 8 years ago. Anything could have happened. But I think I just KNEW it was the right thing to do. It just felt RIGHT. And I've never regretted it. NEVER. Never EVER. When you can say that so completely sincerely then no one can argue with you. I love Lloyd so very much and just can't imagine being with anyone else ever - I can't imagine growing old with anyone else. I never grow tired of being around him. He can take weeks off of work and I still don't want him to go back to work. Yes of course he drives me nuts at times - we're human!!! But we make up as quickly as we fall out....and it tends to be over silly things (like not buying sugar - lol Stacey!!!) I miss Lloyd all day when he's at work and love that he phones me and emails me frequently through the day....and yes I can picture my Mother rolling her eyes at this now ;)
7. Giving birth 5 times. Each birth was so very different. I also feel quite lucky to have had children with two different men. Only because its so special to see that 'first baby' moment and I got to see that TWICE!!! My first labour lasted 34 hours and was an epidural birth - the epidural slowed things down and in the end was a forceps delivery. It wasn't the best delivery and I ended up having stitches. The nurses afterwards were patronising and unfriendly and as he was my first baby I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. Laurence was my second and it was a 9 hour labour and the end went so fast that there was no time for the epidural - I panicked when they told me that but it was actually a GOOD thing and I am so glad that I couldn't have an epidural. I would never have another one now! Susannahs birth was the best one DESPITE everything that went wrong! We both almost died....which makes it sound crazy that it was my best! But I had wanted a natural home birth. All four of my first pregnancies were Midwife managed and delivered in the UK. I was going to have a home a home birth with Susie but she ended up going so far over her due date (19 days) and was so big that my Midwife induced her the day before she was going on holiday - just so I would have my own midwife with me. A choice we made together. My labour and delivery last two hours. Susie then got stuck coming out and had the cord around her neck. My Midwife managed to turn me onto my side quickly and get Susie out finally and then I started to haemorrhage badly. I remember sitting up seeing this lake of blood coming out of me - it was amazing to see all that blood just pour out of me. They rushed Susie off because she was in shock and Nigel was standing there looking panicked not knowing whether to run to me or to Susie...and then I passed out and they gave me oxygen and started squeezing on my tummy.
Susie ended up in special care and they eventually took me down to see her. She looked wrong being in there next to all the premature babies because she was HUGE - she filled the incubator. She was all bruised. Her eyes were all filled with blood from the pressure of the birth and her first pictures had to be taken while she was asleep.
Abigails birth was induced two weeks early because she was getting big already and they didn't want a repeat of Susannahs birth. Not a bad thing as for the third time I had symphisis pubis dysfunction so was happy for the pain to be over. During Abigails birth the cord prolapsed and came out of the cervix before the head...its the strangest feeling - you can feel the pulse of the cord hanging down into the uterus......of course its very dangerous for the baby - if the head pushes down on it, it cuts off oxygen to the baby and the baby can die - so the midwife put her hand up inside and pushed Abigails head back up while Lloyd hit the emergency button and called for the crash team and the midwife tried to push the cord back up over Abigails head! This she managed to do! Amazing! After the birth which lasted about 13 hours, I had a shower and ended up passing out. Lloyd had gone to get me some fresh clothes and a few things and came back to find me slumped in a wheel chair looking very pale!
Sams birth was here in Canada and was VERY different to my other births - it was very medical - we weren't used to doctors being involved but luckily my doctor was quite late to the birth so Sam was delivered by a British Midwife :) JUST!!!! Woohoo! :) 5 out of 5 :)
Five fairly eventful births but all of them amazing experiences with five very healthy outcomes ,that I would never have wanted to miss out on. I was lucky enough to be able to breastfeed all my children - I breastfed mainly out of sheer laziness which is really why I do anything! I jsut couldn't be bothered with all that bottle fuss...breastfeeding is just so quick and easy and hassle free for me - you can just roll over and its there....when you're out it's there....you don't have to wash anything or fetch anything or do anything....or clean anything. I am not a breastfeeding activitist - I don't mind what everyone else does. Each to their own, but I'm happy I breastfed mine.
8. Ice skating on Clarkdale Pond about four years ago with my friend Linda. Having been raised in England and told NEVER to stand on icy ponds...in fact STAY AWAY from icy ponds and rivers, I have always had a fear of going near ice on ponds and rivers - even here in Canada. I love skating on ice rinks, but had never been brave enough to skate on a pond. Then one day my friend Linda suggested I go with her, for some exercise and some fresh air one afternoon. I took her up on her offer and one sunny January afternoon found myself lacing up my skates by the side of Clarkdale pond. Alberta's endless blue skies and sunshine were above me as I took my first step onto the ice and heard it crack below me. Linda reassured me that those cracks are normal and even seeing the water moving about a little below is normal too...the air bubbles are fine.....all was well....the ice is checked regularly and it's safe! The fears you get from growing up somewhere where it just doesn't get cold enough to go near ice!!! Soon I was skating on the icy pond and forgetting my fears and I was LOVING it!!! It was at THAT moment when I truly felt I was in Canada. THIS was Canada!!! This was what being Canadian and what living in Canada was all about! Skating on a frozen pond at -20 on a bright sunny day in January :) I couldn't stop smiling!
9. While I was nursing, one of my clients was extremely ill with anorexia nervosa. She became so ill that doctors gave her just hours to live. I was given the honour of spending the last few hours of her life with her....I spent those hours making her comfortable, washing her hair, bathing her, feeding her...talking with her, writing for her.....supporting her...just being with her. Something happened that day and amazingly she didn't die.....she pulled through....she stayed alive! I managed to persuade her to go to a special eating disorder unit in another city where she got the help she REALLY needed. She's not 100% cured even today but 17 years later she's STILL ALIVE and we're still in touch - still friends - still write to one another and send Christmas cards etc :) I'll never forget that day though when she was so close to death that the doctors almost gave up on her and I was basically saying goodbye to her.....I was 19 years old and I think that experience had a huge effect on me.
10. Our trip to Whistler last year was amazing...it was all expenses paid, for our whole family, Lloyd and I had a Lincoln Navigator while we were there but the children travelled with the rest of our group in chauffeur driven limousines. We spent a few days in suites at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and ordered room service and had the most amazing meals in the restaurants as well enjoyed the heated outdoor pool with a bear walking just outside the fence....the pool was beside the snow capped mountains....we attended a wonderful champagne reception with 'the Queen' (lol) and a wonderful dinner....and were completely spoiled rotten. Then we spent a few days at a different hotel near Vancouver where we had tickets to see a comedian, went to the casino, visited Stanley Park and the Aquarium...before being chauffeur driven back to the airport. It was incredible....I don't know if we will ever experience life like that ever again - it was amazing to see my children being driven around in such luxury - seeing the chauffeur rush to get an umbrella for Susannah as she stepped from the car just to go to McDonalds!!! Then when she forgot her purse he rushed back with her with the umbrella! The sad thing is that I felt sooooo at home at Chateau Whistler - having the next days weather forecast left on my pillow - having my bed turned down for me at night.....room service......valet parking so we never got wet when it was raining as the car was brought to the door for us.....and the wonderful heated pool by the mountain......I want to go back - and the waffles!!!!!! MMmmmmmmm
I want to be THAT rich ;) lol!!!
If you read this YOU'RE TAGGED!!! ;)
Safeway for a pizza and salad and Oprah magazine yesterday. On Saturday at Home Depot for a new door for the mudroom. Michaels for a crocheting kit and ribbon. Please Mum for pants for Sam. People magazine in Safeway (I wanted to read about the Obamas since winning the Presidency but the whole issue is excellent by the way!!!) and a few groceries on Saturday.
What is changing in your life right now?
My home is changing as we are having major renovations done. I am changing as I have lost 50lbs this year and have had my hair go from long to VERY short. My friendships have changed greatly in the last year or so and I have had some new and wonderful friendships start in recent months and have grown closer to friends that were already in my life. I have also come to realise that effort that I was putting in to some friendships was not being returned in a way that I needed. As hard as this was to face I needed to face this. I also finally saw someone for who they really were and removed them from my life. I feel better for having their games out of my life.
My interests have changed. Our plans for the future change with the volatile economy and remain flexible. Our family will change in the new year when our Nephew joins us. Abigail started school in the Fall and was diagnosed with OCD and tourettes. Sam is now in Pre-K two afternoons a week and I have a lot more time to myself.
My life is changing as my children are getting older as I develop new interests and as Lloyd and I get much more time for ourselves. I'm still not sure what I want to DO yet...I know I want to do more voluntary work....but I'm not sure where or how or when...although I think I have an idea.....Maybe after Christmas when Sam is back in Pre-K I could spend those afternoons volunteering.....
What is your usual order at Tim Hortons and at McDonalds?
At Timmys my order is either a mediium double double and a twelve grain bagel double toasted with butter (of which I will eat only the top half) OR I will order a croissant and jam with a double double but I can only drink half a double double. If I'm in there for dinner then I will order a soup like a hearty vegetable or chicken and rice or whatever!.....Thats my order.....
At McDonalds I always order the same thing. A happy meal with a hamburger. I give half my fries to Lloyd because i don't like the fries much and I have a diet coke. I get the toy which I give to whichever child behaves best! If I deserve a treat I will get a fruit pie!!! YUM!!!! :)
Name five things that are in your refrigerator right now?
strawberries, orange juice, pilsbury fudge brownie dough, defrosting skinless chicken breasts for tomorrow, lean ground beef for tonights cottage pie.
What was the best trip you ever took? Why do you consider it the best?
Although our Disney holidays were fantastic, when I think of wonderful holidays, I still think of Canmore this Summer. The sad thing is, that Susannah and Laurence weren't there, but apart from that, that week away was just so perfect. It was what a 'holiday' should be! It was a just so completely relaxing! We did nothing but relax. We swam in the pool, relaxed by the lake, fished, ate out, watched movies in the condo and just rested. It was only a few hours from home, nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and was just heavenly. I have such wonderful memories of stress free days - Abigail feeding the gophers, Sams face catching that first fish! swimming in the dark! And Sam asked for so long after if we could pac up our things and move to 'the house with the sliding door and the pool and the hot tub'........
List 10 experiences in your life that you’re thankful for?
In no particular order:
1. Living in Scotland for a while and getting to see that beautiful country and learning about it's history and meeting some of it's people! Loch Ness, Edinburgh Castle, George Street, Browns, Stirling, and all of the other places we toured and visited.
2. Living with/Being married to someone from a totally different background and culture for 12 years and being able to experience New York City, Brooklyn, Calypso, Caribbean music and foods and having my 3 oldest children because of that.
3. My training as a psychiatric nurse and my training as a counselor..my time in the womens centre in Blackburn, counseling and ANY work I've done counseling whether with friends or voluntarily since. I may not have worked in a VERY long time but I don't think ANY of my training was wasted. It seems not a month goes by without me needing to utilise my skills in one way or another and so I am very grateful that I have that training. Even my time in the Methadone clinic and addictions unit - the heroin centre - as much as I did NOT enjoy my time there and still do not think that that program worked, I do think I gained a lot form going there. Even if it was only to know that I CAN be brave enough to walk through the door!
4. Going to Herblay, France when it was twinned with our home town. I went with a group of teens from my home town, including Louise (my school friend who sometimes reads my blog and who is on Facebook with me) and with a couple of adults. we went in a minibus on the ferry across the English channel and drove down to Herblay which is a town in the suburbs of Paris. I stayed with a French family there who were very welcoming - the Meron family. They had two daughters Laurence and Sandrine. I didn't speak very good French but that didn't stop me having SUCH a great time! To be honest our teachers didn't keep a very good eye on us and we were left to our own devices a lot of the time and we had a great time - we were left to roam Paris and Herblay on OUR OWN!!! I remember having hot chocolate and croissants in an outdoor cafe on top of this glamorous department store....overlooking the Eiffel Tower...and buying a scarf from a street seller...and then ending up in a seedy area and having these old seedy looking guys looking at us....Oh and then on the way home the boys we were with had bought fireworks and stuffed them into the seats of the minibus but they got caught!!!! and all got in trouble on the ferry! I've been to France twice and the two trips are a little muddled in my head....on one trip I stayed with a family who lived above a horse meat shop that they owned. I went to school with one family as it was part of the French Exchange programme at school. We visited the Bayeux Tapestry and the Palace of Versaille as well as the sites of Paris....I didn't eat horse meat though - they gave me artichoke hearts instead ;) I'm a little more adventurous in my eating habits these days :)
5. Keeping bees. I don't know if my bees will make it through the Winter. If they don't make it through the winter I don't know if we will order new packages next year - we WILL get new packages once we are SURE we know where will be staying long term, but maybe not NEXT year...but I do know that we LOVED having them THIS year and all that we learned from them...just spending time with them and around them...learning from these amazing insects- how they live as a community together, working together for the better of the hive and their Queen. Seeing babies being born...watching Sam delving in for the honey. Seeing children come here who are scared of bees and yet seeing them get closer and closer to the hive and then putting their hands in and sticking their fingers amongst the bees to taste honey and then going back for more no longer afraid! Rescuing the sticky drunk bees with Lloyd.....rescuing the bees from the workshop...the excitement of catching my first swarm!!! All in all it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget and would never have wanted to miss and even if I don't do it again this coming year I WILL do it again - I soooo hope the bees make it through!
6. Taking the gamble to leave my Ex and go and stay with Lloyd almost 8 years ago. Anything could have happened. But I think I just KNEW it was the right thing to do. It just felt RIGHT. And I've never regretted it. NEVER. Never EVER. When you can say that so completely sincerely then no one can argue with you. I love Lloyd so very much and just can't imagine being with anyone else ever - I can't imagine growing old with anyone else. I never grow tired of being around him. He can take weeks off of work and I still don't want him to go back to work. Yes of course he drives me nuts at times - we're human!!! But we make up as quickly as we fall out....and it tends to be over silly things (like not buying sugar - lol Stacey!!!) I miss Lloyd all day when he's at work and love that he phones me and emails me frequently through the day....and yes I can picture my Mother rolling her eyes at this now ;)
7. Giving birth 5 times. Each birth was so very different. I also feel quite lucky to have had children with two different men. Only because its so special to see that 'first baby' moment and I got to see that TWICE!!! My first labour lasted 34 hours and was an epidural birth - the epidural slowed things down and in the end was a forceps delivery. It wasn't the best delivery and I ended up having stitches. The nurses afterwards were patronising and unfriendly and as he was my first baby I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. Laurence was my second and it was a 9 hour labour and the end went so fast that there was no time for the epidural - I panicked when they told me that but it was actually a GOOD thing and I am so glad that I couldn't have an epidural. I would never have another one now! Susannahs birth was the best one DESPITE everything that went wrong! We both almost died....which makes it sound crazy that it was my best! But I had wanted a natural home birth. All four of my first pregnancies were Midwife managed and delivered in the UK. I was going to have a home a home birth with Susie but she ended up going so far over her due date (19 days) and was so big that my Midwife induced her the day before she was going on holiday - just so I would have my own midwife with me. A choice we made together. My labour and delivery last two hours. Susie then got stuck coming out and had the cord around her neck. My Midwife managed to turn me onto my side quickly and get Susie out finally and then I started to haemorrhage badly. I remember sitting up seeing this lake of blood coming out of me - it was amazing to see all that blood just pour out of me. They rushed Susie off because she was in shock and Nigel was standing there looking panicked not knowing whether to run to me or to Susie...and then I passed out and they gave me oxygen and started squeezing on my tummy.
Susie ended up in special care and they eventually took me down to see her. She looked wrong being in there next to all the premature babies because she was HUGE - she filled the incubator. She was all bruised. Her eyes were all filled with blood from the pressure of the birth and her first pictures had to be taken while she was asleep.
Abigails birth was induced two weeks early because she was getting big already and they didn't want a repeat of Susannahs birth. Not a bad thing as for the third time I had symphisis pubis dysfunction so was happy for the pain to be over. During Abigails birth the cord prolapsed and came out of the cervix before the head...its the strangest feeling - you can feel the pulse of the cord hanging down into the uterus......of course its very dangerous for the baby - if the head pushes down on it, it cuts off oxygen to the baby and the baby can die - so the midwife put her hand up inside and pushed Abigails head back up while Lloyd hit the emergency button and called for the crash team and the midwife tried to push the cord back up over Abigails head! This she managed to do! Amazing! After the birth which lasted about 13 hours, I had a shower and ended up passing out. Lloyd had gone to get me some fresh clothes and a few things and came back to find me slumped in a wheel chair looking very pale!
Sams birth was here in Canada and was VERY different to my other births - it was very medical - we weren't used to doctors being involved but luckily my doctor was quite late to the birth so Sam was delivered by a British Midwife :) JUST!!!! Woohoo! :) 5 out of 5 :)
Five fairly eventful births but all of them amazing experiences with five very healthy outcomes ,that I would never have wanted to miss out on. I was lucky enough to be able to breastfeed all my children - I breastfed mainly out of sheer laziness which is really why I do anything! I jsut couldn't be bothered with all that bottle fuss...breastfeeding is just so quick and easy and hassle free for me - you can just roll over and its there....when you're out it's there....you don't have to wash anything or fetch anything or do anything....or clean anything. I am not a breastfeeding activitist - I don't mind what everyone else does. Each to their own, but I'm happy I breastfed mine.
8. Ice skating on Clarkdale Pond about four years ago with my friend Linda. Having been raised in England and told NEVER to stand on icy ponds...in fact STAY AWAY from icy ponds and rivers, I have always had a fear of going near ice on ponds and rivers - even here in Canada. I love skating on ice rinks, but had never been brave enough to skate on a pond. Then one day my friend Linda suggested I go with her, for some exercise and some fresh air one afternoon. I took her up on her offer and one sunny January afternoon found myself lacing up my skates by the side of Clarkdale pond. Alberta's endless blue skies and sunshine were above me as I took my first step onto the ice and heard it crack below me. Linda reassured me that those cracks are normal and even seeing the water moving about a little below is normal too...the air bubbles are fine.....all was well....the ice is checked regularly and it's safe! The fears you get from growing up somewhere where it just doesn't get cold enough to go near ice!!! Soon I was skating on the icy pond and forgetting my fears and I was LOVING it!!! It was at THAT moment when I truly felt I was in Canada. THIS was Canada!!! This was what being Canadian and what living in Canada was all about! Skating on a frozen pond at -20 on a bright sunny day in January :) I couldn't stop smiling!
9. While I was nursing, one of my clients was extremely ill with anorexia nervosa. She became so ill that doctors gave her just hours to live. I was given the honour of spending the last few hours of her life with her....I spent those hours making her comfortable, washing her hair, bathing her, feeding her...talking with her, writing for her.....supporting her...just being with her. Something happened that day and amazingly she didn't die.....she pulled through....she stayed alive! I managed to persuade her to go to a special eating disorder unit in another city where she got the help she REALLY needed. She's not 100% cured even today but 17 years later she's STILL ALIVE and we're still in touch - still friends - still write to one another and send Christmas cards etc :) I'll never forget that day though when she was so close to death that the doctors almost gave up on her and I was basically saying goodbye to her.....I was 19 years old and I think that experience had a huge effect on me.
10. Our trip to Whistler last year was amazing...it was all expenses paid, for our whole family, Lloyd and I had a Lincoln Navigator while we were there but the children travelled with the rest of our group in chauffeur driven limousines. We spent a few days in suites at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and ordered room service and had the most amazing meals in the restaurants as well enjoyed the heated outdoor pool with a bear walking just outside the fence....the pool was beside the snow capped mountains....we attended a wonderful champagne reception with 'the Queen' (lol) and a wonderful dinner....and were completely spoiled rotten. Then we spent a few days at a different hotel near Vancouver where we had tickets to see a comedian, went to the casino, visited Stanley Park and the Aquarium...before being chauffeur driven back to the airport. It was incredible....I don't know if we will ever experience life like that ever again - it was amazing to see my children being driven around in such luxury - seeing the chauffeur rush to get an umbrella for Susannah as she stepped from the car just to go to McDonalds!!! Then when she forgot her purse he rushed back with her with the umbrella! The sad thing is that I felt sooooo at home at Chateau Whistler - having the next days weather forecast left on my pillow - having my bed turned down for me at night.....room service......valet parking so we never got wet when it was raining as the car was brought to the door for us.....and the wonderful heated pool by the mountain......I want to go back - and the waffles!!!!!! MMmmmmmmm
I want to be THAT rich ;) lol!!!
If you read this YOU'RE TAGGED!!! ;)
Nov 16, 2008
squirreling it away for Winter......
Lloyd has named our squirrel Frank.....and Frank has a 'mate' it seems....Susie spotted Frank with his 'friend' on the porch this morning...the first time we have seen two of them!!! I guess he spread the word that we are good hosts ;) We now buy squirrel food by the bagful at Home Depot.....they sell these bags of weird looking corn that you are supposed to attach to squirrel feeders but Lloyd hasn't made my squirrel feeder yet! So our squirrels are just nibbling them off the ground!
Grayson keeps trying to catch one of the squirrels but they are much too fast. Cairo is too fat and lazy and slow to even try. Jaspers a bit of a ditzy blonde lol...but he tries! He's still so kitteny in some ways!
funny words.....
You know when you post a comment on some blogs you have to type in those funny jumbled letters as a type of security against spammers...I was just typing a comment on a blog and the letters that came up spelled 'redcoc' not quite spelled correctly but if you read it...well lets just say it made me laugh ;)
It's 11:42am and a lazy Sunday morning.....Lloyd brought me breakfast in bed....so I've had two cups of coffee now and he brought me marmalade on toast. I told him I'm having trouble getting motivated to get out of bed.....he laughed and said not to worry about it. He has gone to do the mudroom (we bought some storage for it yesterday which I will photograph later - I am sick of washing the snow pants and then having the cats sleep on them and then having to wash them again so we bought some drawers for the snow pants and gloves etc etc)...anyway instead of telling me to GET UP, Lloyd just said to stay in bed and when he is done in the mudroom he will come up and rip the covers off of me ;)
Deal ;)
It's 11:42am and a lazy Sunday morning.....Lloyd brought me breakfast in bed....so I've had two cups of coffee now and he brought me marmalade on toast. I told him I'm having trouble getting motivated to get out of bed.....he laughed and said not to worry about it. He has gone to do the mudroom (we bought some storage for it yesterday which I will photograph later - I am sick of washing the snow pants and then having the cats sleep on them and then having to wash them again so we bought some drawers for the snow pants and gloves etc etc)...anyway instead of telling me to GET UP, Lloyd just said to stay in bed and when he is done in the mudroom he will come up and rip the covers off of me ;)
Deal ;)
Nov 15, 2008
Very first attempts at crocheting...
I bought a beginners kit for crocheting today and have been watching learn to crochet videos at youtube. At first it was driving me crazy - I couldn't get the tension right, I kept dropping stitches.....it was a MESS. Then I got going fine...then it would mess up again..then I thought I'd done a million stitches but it was only about 5cm long!!!!
Anyway, my friend Holly suggested I use a bigger hook so I tried that and although it makes much bigger stitches which I don't much like the look of, I am at least doing regular stitches and regular tension and going faster and feeling better about the whole thing and feel like I'm getting somewhere!
I'm crocheting!!!!
So I am going to stick with the big hook for now and learn with this and then change when I get a bit better! I bought two balls of yarn and will practice. But my goal is to one day make a ripple blanket like the one here:
mysewingserenity.blogspot.com/2008/10/first-born-ripple.html
Isn't it gorgeous? It reminds me of the stripy blanket I was given when I was a baby!
So no laughing at my very first attempts in the picture - there was a stage a couple of hours ago where I was close to throwing the stupid crochet hook out of the window!!! I'm glad I stuck with it!! Check out my friend Julies knitting and crocheting blog at: wittyknitting.blogspot.com/ not JUST about knitting!!! Her homeschooling family have been looking at sperm on the kitchen table......hahahahaha OMG THIS is why Julie will ALWAYS be my homeschooling role model :) and why I would give anything to be able to drive over for a cuppa and to catch up....because they just do the coolest things :) she knits, she homeschools and she wouldn't have batted an eyelid to the fact we kept a dead shrew on our kitchen windowsill in a jam jar.....
For Mom....
So far I can only find this ribbon at any of the stores....its the narrowest I can find. I grabbed it anyway as I figure I can always use it to send to our girls we sponsor for their hair etc otherwise.....let me know if its any use for Lynn at all or if I should keep looking for the finer ribbon.....I know this is much wider than you wanted but I can't find anything finer at the moment - maybe before the wedding I will though.....
Hi Lynn - I know this isn't the fine ribbon you want so I will keep looking but I grabbed it jujst because it had the maple leaf on it and was all I could find so far! Thought if anything you might be able to make use of it for something - on balloons or chairs.........something!
Which swap?
Can you guess which swap these are for???? Lets just say I am sorely disappointed with them I received them today - they are on flimsy paper and are poorly made....stickers stuck on a piece of paper do not an atc-make!!!! And the note that was sent was written in a 'can't be bothered' attitude. I really got the feeling from it that the person who sent it wasn't botherd to even try. I had to give a 5 because she sent what she had to send - 2 atc's. But they don't match the swap in my opinion AT ALL :( I did NOT give a heart :(
I was so excited to get this swap too. I took sooooo much time making the atc's for this swap - throwing away many before having some I felt were good enough....HA....NOW you all know what swap it was huh?????
I know art is in the eye of the beholder and it's all in the interpretation but PLEASE...... :(
more dragonfly atc's
Here are my second set of dragonfly atc's that I received from the swap at Swap-bot - aren't they gorgeous?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
