2009 07 02_2003
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3
In this video, Gramma helps Blake pick up some puppies while Lora watches in the background.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Puppies!
2009 07 02_2003
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3
In this video, Gramma helps Blake pick up some puppies while Lora watches in the background.
My first cousin, Lora
The last couple of weeks has been a whirlwind around the house. The big news was a visit from Lora, my first cousin from Australia. Having her come for a visit is always a big event, and Faith makes it an even bigger one because Lora (and her sister Charlotte) are like the big sisters she doesn't have. In her eight-year-old eyes, hanging out with her teenage cousins is the height of cool.
We got to visit with her twice in the last two weeks--one here and one down at my parents' farm (more to come). My Aunt Margaret and Lora came for a visit to our place two Fridays ago. In honour of the visit, we got to do a couple of firsts.
We got to go antique shopping in the little town next to ours...something I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but have shied away from with a baby/toddler in tow. My credit card/nerves couldn't handle that. But, Lora likes to antique, Faith and Aunt Margaret were up for it, and Blake was at the sitters. So, the elements aligned.
The antique stores ranged from garage sale to don't touch anything ($10,000 antique desk anyone?). My favourite spot was a place called Funky Junk, so you can tell which end of scale I was on. I got a couple of nature prints for the house, Faith got a little ring with an F on it, and I got a nicely rusted flower climber for the garden. Then, we had to stop for a "snack" at an outdoor cafe where we had yummy scones and a cinnamon bun floating in a bed of caramel sauce. (We shared...and Faith and I are planning a return trip with Blake. :)
Our next stop was Stratford for West Side Story. Aunt Margaret kindly treated us to rush tickets (thank you!) and we had some pretty good seats for the afternoon showing. Lora was very familiar with the play (band), as was Aunt Margaret, but I'd never seen it, and this was Faith's first play EVER. (We were going big.) They assured me I would know most of the music, though, but I'm not a musical fan so I was just prepared for a "pleasant" afternoon.
Wow! What a surprise. I knew almost all the music, and the play was fantastic! It wasn't just the music but the staging, dancing, and physicality of the production. The balcony scene was spectacular and the audience broke out in applause for Tony half-way through the scene to say HOLY COW...I can't believe you just did that while SINGING/ACTING/DANCING. Faith's comment was more on point, "How many times did they kiss?!?"
So, yes, I actually liked this musical, as did the rest of our girl-party. I was very happy that Faith enjoyed her first real theatre experience. As she said, "I didn't understand it all, but I liked it!"
So that was the day. When we got home to the boys, we mostly recovered (i.e. napped), and then Faith watched a Family Channel movie with Lora (yes even 19-year-olds...and adults...can enjoy some things produced by Disney). A relaxing ending to a great day.
We got to visit with her twice in the last two weeks--one here and one down at my parents' farm (more to come). My Aunt Margaret and Lora came for a visit to our place two Fridays ago. In honour of the visit, we got to do a couple of firsts.
We got to go antique shopping in the little town next to ours...something I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but have shied away from with a baby/toddler in tow. My credit card/nerves couldn't handle that. But, Lora likes to antique, Faith and Aunt Margaret were up for it, and Blake was at the sitters. So, the elements aligned.
The antique stores ranged from garage sale to don't touch anything ($10,000 antique desk anyone?). My favourite spot was a place called Funky Junk, so you can tell which end of scale I was on. I got a couple of nature prints for the house, Faith got a little ring with an F on it, and I got a nicely rusted flower climber for the garden. Then, we had to stop for a "snack" at an outdoor cafe where we had yummy scones and a cinnamon bun floating in a bed of caramel sauce. (We shared...and Faith and I are planning a return trip with Blake. :)
Our next stop was Stratford for West Side Story. Aunt Margaret kindly treated us to rush tickets (thank you!) and we had some pretty good seats for the afternoon showing. Lora was very familiar with the play (band), as was Aunt Margaret, but I'd never seen it, and this was Faith's first play EVER. (We were going big.) They assured me I would know most of the music, though, but I'm not a musical fan so I was just prepared for a "pleasant" afternoon.
Wow! What a surprise. I knew almost all the music, and the play was fantastic! It wasn't just the music but the staging, dancing, and physicality of the production. The balcony scene was spectacular and the audience broke out in applause for Tony half-way through the scene to say HOLY COW...I can't believe you just did that while SINGING/ACTING/DANCING. Faith's comment was more on point, "How many times did they kiss?!?"
So, yes, I actually liked this musical, as did the rest of our girl-party. I was very happy that Faith enjoyed her first real theatre experience. As she said, "I didn't understand it all, but I liked it!"
So that was the day. When we got home to the boys, we mostly recovered (i.e. napped), and then Faith watched a Family Channel movie with Lora (yes even 19-year-olds...and adults...can enjoy some things produced by Disney). A relaxing ending to a great day.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Happy Canada Day!
In honour of the day, I made some very "red" strawberry-rhubarb crisp today. I totally went local with the ingredients. The rhubarb and strawberries are from a farm market that I pass by each day.
The kids and I also made a double-batch of chocolate chip cookies. And, I made homemade pecan/dark chocolate ice cream. Yum!
Don't worry...we'll all fit into our clothes next week. Most of the baking is headed elsewhere or into the freezer for a bbq we're having.
So have a Happy Canada Day and enjoy whatever you're doing. Me...I'm off to take a nap. Baking is exhausting. :)
The kids and I also made a double-batch of chocolate chip cookies. And, I made homemade pecan/dark chocolate ice cream. Yum!
Don't worry...we'll all fit into our clothes next week. Most of the baking is headed elsewhere or into the freezer for a bbq we're having.
So have a Happy Canada Day and enjoy whatever you're doing. Me...I'm off to take a nap. Baking is exhausting. :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The wiggle/giggle car
The wiggle/giggle car
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3
Weigela
Last fall Ryan planted a "living" fence of various bushes at our place (courtesy of Melissa's design). This spring and summer I'm enjoying watching the plants bloom. I'd never heard of a weigela before, but I have two varieties now!
I love their colorful pink flowers. And, looking around my garden, I seem to have repeated this color, or a version of it, all over the place. I may not wear pink, but I seem to like the color in my flora.
I love their colorful pink flowers. And, looking around my garden, I seem to have repeated this color, or a version of it, all over the place. I may not wear pink, but I seem to like the color in my flora.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Productivity
This was one of those amazing weekends in which everything clicked and we got more done in two days that we have in the previous 12 months. So, what did we do?
We planted two snowballs in my "fence/hedge". The original snowballs didn't survive the winter.
We did our initial design consultation on a pergola we're having built. Our contractor, Brian, who also did two basements and three bathrooms for us over the years, has great ideas, so we merged everyone's ideas together and came up with a kick ass design that he'll be able to build for us in July. Woohoo!
We went shopping for a hot tub, and, to our surprise, put a deposit on one! Six-person, therapeutic jets, yippee! We've been talking about a hot tub since we moved into our house 5 1/2 years ago. I can't believe we'll actually be getting one now!
We hit Home Depot to check out some pergola material ideas, buy pegboards for a garage organization, and get some glue for our front step.
We went out to dinner at Casey's with the kids and gorged on nachos and chicken wings. I also introduced the kids to the wonders of the smoothie. (We've had two homemade smoothies since. A new way to get fruits into the kids.)
When we got home, we weeded the garden of those nasty thistles that keep popping up in my new flower bed, and pulled out all the past-their-prime anemones (a great perennial when it's in bloom, but it looks like hell when it's done). I also got to admire my bright-pink peonies that are finally in bloom.
We finally watched The Dark Knight. (Heath Ledger was suitably creepy/brilliant as the joker, living up to expectations.)
We hit church on Sunday morning, then, most importantly, I had a nap. :)
We organized the garage with peg boards, and hooks, and all manner of fastener. This was actually a present from George...a much appreciated and needed one.
And, then we rested......
We planted two snowballs in my "fence/hedge". The original snowballs didn't survive the winter.
We did our initial design consultation on a pergola we're having built. Our contractor, Brian, who also did two basements and three bathrooms for us over the years, has great ideas, so we merged everyone's ideas together and came up with a kick ass design that he'll be able to build for us in July. Woohoo!
We went shopping for a hot tub, and, to our surprise, put a deposit on one! Six-person, therapeutic jets, yippee! We've been talking about a hot tub since we moved into our house 5 1/2 years ago. I can't believe we'll actually be getting one now!
We hit Home Depot to check out some pergola material ideas, buy pegboards for a garage organization, and get some glue for our front step.
We went out to dinner at Casey's with the kids and gorged on nachos and chicken wings. I also introduced the kids to the wonders of the smoothie. (We've had two homemade smoothies since. A new way to get fruits into the kids.)
When we got home, we weeded the garden of those nasty thistles that keep popping up in my new flower bed, and pulled out all the past-their-prime anemones (a great perennial when it's in bloom, but it looks like hell when it's done). I also got to admire my bright-pink peonies that are finally in bloom.
We finally watched The Dark Knight. (Heath Ledger was suitably creepy/brilliant as the joker, living up to expectations.)
We hit church on Sunday morning, then, most importantly, I had a nap. :)
We organized the garage with peg boards, and hooks, and all manner of fastener. This was actually a present from George...a much appreciated and needed one.
And, then we rested......
Thursday, June 04, 2009
The case for egg salad
We make a lot of egg salad at our house. George and I love a good egg salad sandwich, Faith eats it too, and Blake likes to crack the eggs (although he prefers to eat the whole egg instead of the mushed up bits). So it's the perfect food...you get to play, then eat. We've always just made egg salad with whatever was lying around. And sometimes, it's just mushed up egg and mayo when we're feeling particularly lazy.
So, when someone at work asked me if I had a recipe for egg salad, I was actually surprised. Recipe? For egg salad? Why? Don't you just boil, cool, peel, mush? Perhaps chop up some celery, maybe a little green onion? I like a bit of relish and pepper. Whatever. I'd never even thought about looking up a recipe.
I think that this is another illustration of how different people view the world--some people need recipes, others wing it. I took one of those "personality" test things on the internet for fun, and one of my characteristics was "creative". But, I've never really thought of myself this way. Analytical yes, but not creative. But, maybe my egg salad "non-recipe" is one example of my "creativity". I'm not sure how this meshes with my control-freak nature though...a balancing act I think.
Either way, it leads to good egg salad.
So, when someone at work asked me if I had a recipe for egg salad, I was actually surprised. Recipe? For egg salad? Why? Don't you just boil, cool, peel, mush? Perhaps chop up some celery, maybe a little green onion? I like a bit of relish and pepper. Whatever. I'd never even thought about looking up a recipe.
I think that this is another illustration of how different people view the world--some people need recipes, others wing it. I took one of those "personality" test things on the internet for fun, and one of my characteristics was "creative". But, I've never really thought of myself this way. Analytical yes, but not creative. But, maybe my egg salad "non-recipe" is one example of my "creativity". I'm not sure how this meshes with my control-freak nature though...a balancing act I think.
Either way, it leads to good egg salad.
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