late

Pro D Day.
No school.
H and L can sleep in.
My alarm went off at 5.30 but I shut it off.
I guess I wanted to sleep in too.
Not a good idea.
We still need to go to work.
Traffic will be terrible for the husband.
I just need to walk faster.
1st Semester of Grade 8 is OVAH.
The snow is finally melting.
The weekend is almost here.

the 7 minute egg

I love boiled eggs.
The 7 minute egg is perfect.
Just the right texture.
Smashed on toast.
Whole grain with flax or sourdough.
Either is wonderful.
A little salt and pepper.
Americano on the side.

money

daughter: we changed the music on our "money" dance.

parents: what is it?

daughter: I don't know, it kinda goes like this and she hums a few notes from pink floyd

parents: it is pink floyd

daughter: oh no, I don't think so - I don't think it is pink floyd.

parents: we'll play it for you.

daughter: OH. that is it.. you found it.... how did you know?

Score one for the parents.

six things

1. We are having roast beast tonight with yorkshire pudding and green beans.
2. My children are studying for their first final exams.
3. I am finally going back to my Pilates class tomorrow - I have been away for 6 weeks.  I have mixed feelings.   I am very much looking forward to the stretching but I know that I will have lost a good amount of the flexibility I had gained.
4. I have an idea for a small business which I am very excited about.
5. I am watching the 3rd season of HOUSE.
6. I started listening to Leonard Cohen again.
   
   

january frost

january frost images

waiting

for the pizza.

the fog lifted at about noon

a bit of a funk has settled in

a little bit tired

still thankful

glad to have a day of rest

campbell's tomato soup and thin crust pizza

easy meal

quiet

misc.

I am short of time. What else is new? We have been enveloped in such a damp thick fog for days now. The sun is nowhere to be seen. It is cold enough that the snow is barely melting. Time for a gratitude list.

• my gas fireplaces
• good friends and conversation
• healthy children
• prawns vindaloo
• dark chocolate
• still have my job
• homemade pizza
  

comfort in the familiar

• smashed egg on toast
• the perfect americano
• cknw - the bill good show
• folding laundry

I could not eat or drink this morning until I went for some blood tests.. so my breakfast and my coffee tasted especially fantastic this morning. I am looking forward to a quiet day.

the blessing of the waters 2009

the river bed



in the water

quiet

Fridays I leave 45 minutes later.
I enjoy closing the door and saying goodbye to my children and knowing I will have a few minutes of quiet before I leave the house.
I sometimes fold a bit of laundry.
I load up the dishwasher.
I read blogs.
I rest in the quiet.
They are wonderful minutes.
I take the time to be thankful for all I have been given.
Friends
A job.
A house over my head.
A bed to sleep in.
A family that struggles together.
A job.
I know so many people who have lost a job or who are married to someone who has lost a job.
Sobering times.

a daughter returns

My daughter hit puberty hard and fast at the very early age of 10 and a half. I knew it was coming so we were prepared for the physical changes... but it was brutal to see her navigate these waters alone in her peer group. And I had forgotten how the it would affect her emotionally and spiritually. And I had no idea of how it would impact my life. Clueless.

She is on the verge of turning 14 and the last few years have been particularly rough. She has been absent a good majority of the time. Absent in spirit - lurking on the outside of family life, reluctant to participate in conversation, surly and sullen. I missed her so much my heart ached.

This summer was dreadful. I wondered if we would constantly be at battle. I wondered if we would ever share laughter or delight again. I wondered why she couldn't stand to be around us.

But, the last few months she has changed. The darkness is still there but there are moments of light. She is intense and a dancer. She is full of drama but she is insightful. She is learning to laugh at herself. She is coming back to us and I am flattened in thanksgiving.

My heart is pierced by her love and her willingness to allow me back into her life.

assortment

I have just discovered the TV series HOUSE. We are half way through the first season. My son and I are watching it. Occasionally my daughter will sit down and watch an episode. Neither of my children will be associated with the medical profession. What I have noticed is that almost every episode features someone who has a seizure of some kind. What I love about discovering a TV series that has gone to DVD is that I watch the show on my own terms. I do not need to suffer through commercials.

I noticed on my walk home that the snow on the sidewalk has only melted away if there is a tree above it.

I met a Life Coach today. Fascinating.

We ate hot dogs and veggies and dip for dinner.

A most dear friend has received word that he got an interview to med school.

3 good things:

wool socks
bubble bath
a good Pinot

oh the cedar hedge!

I know I seem to be going on and on about the cedar hedge and the weather and the snow... but seriously - after clearing them all yesterday and knocking off all the snow off the Honda we woke this morning to the image of split cedars... so all the work we have done up to now did nothing to prevent the mess we are in. Frustrating.




So, I will dress up in my snow gear - as it is going to be very wet and do my best to knock the snow off and set the hedge upright...'cause I have nothing better to do!

winter images

the apple tree



the outside Christmas tree



going nowhere in the Honda



outside the sunroom

happy new year

operation save the cedar hedge had to be brought back for yet another round.
thankfully the house was full of young lads who made short shrift of the work.
thanks to Josh,Jonah,Christian Q, Christian J, and Luke for all your hard work.

we enjoyed a low key new years. good friends. good food. we were in bed at a reasonable hour and up to make the breakfast of champions. the remainder of the day was quiet.

I never did get my agenda updated so I am going to bed early to do just that.

Tomorrow brings - a day of organizing.

We need to prepare my in-laws home for their renters.

We are going to sort through our closets and donate a bunch of stuff we no longer wear.

Some menu planning as we are going to strive to eat more locally and eat more veggies and fish this year. I want to expand our repetoire of meals.

Wishing all a new year full of peace, joy and prosperity.