Blah

That's how I feel.

I haven't mentioned it,

'cause I think that if I don't talk about it,

and I don't acknowledge it,

maybe it didn't happen.

But it did.

Winter is...... back.

Argh.

I went to bed the other night,

and it was Spring.

No snow on the ground,

birds back and chirping,

the barn was finally drying up....

and woke up to a snowstorm.

We already had a foot of snow everywhere,

and it snowed and blowed all day.

Sideways snow.

And since then,

it's been freezing.

It's not back with a mild -2, oh no.

It's back with -14.

Last year was an early Spring.

I checked back,

and this post was from March 19.

I remember.

It was warm.... sweaters only.

And winter did NOT come back.

But I do also remember,

in 2002,

we had snow the weekend of May 16.

'Cause my oldest son turned 2, so we had a party.

And it SNOWED.

I guess this is life in Canada.

But seriously.

A little Spring, Lord?

Please?

I also have a wicked bad cold.

You know how some colds aren't that bad and you can still function?

Not this one.

My brain doesn't work, and I feel in a fog all the time.

And what my body tends to do with colds,

is turn them into pneumonia.

I felt it coming on strong yesterday,

it hurt my lungs to swallow.

But my Mom took my kids for the afternoon, and I slept.

And slept.

Got a good 3 hour nap.

And woke feeling better.

Even made it to Nathan's final Hockey practice/ party.

I can swallow and talk without my lungs hurting.

I hope I'm on the upswing..

things are not right when Mom's are sick.

Here's what it looked like today:

On the right is bikes, on the cement pad.

Ha.

I tell the kids that's why winter is back....

because they got their bikes out.

Pax is wearing his blanket again...

and dealing with frozen water.

Notice no chickens?

That's right.

They are back to being stuck in the shack.

They don't like cold feet.

The wind is howling outside,

and I have to bundle up and head out to care for my animules.

I do have one thing, well a couple things,

that tell me Spring has got to be coming....

I went for 10 Barred Rock Layers,

and 1 Barred Roo.

Came back with 23 chicks.

I ordered another 10 layer variety while there, and apparently they threw in another 2.

So, in a few months,

I will be selling fresh, delicious, free-range eggs.

Get your orders in now, people.

Spring has sprung

Or at least this week it gave a credible effort.

Tonight we're expecting snow flurries....

again.

But most of the accumulated snow from the winter has melted.

It was a glorious week.

Birds are back,

and their various chirps, tweets and honks are like music to my ears.

Ever noticed how quiet it is in the winter?

I am reminded every spring how silent everything has been.

I ordered some more Barred Rock chicks, 

pick them up Tuesday.

That's a sign of Spring, right?

Fluffy baby chicks.

And mud.

Oh, the mud.

It's a sign of Spring.

And although I have to wash my floor a bazillion times a day,

I'm not yet complaining about it.

Cause mud = Spring.

Here's a few pictures of something I mentioned I was dying to see again.

Happy ladies.

Not sure if they're finding much,

but they sure are trying.

Exploring...

going up.

And coming back down.

I love fluffy chicken butts.

She's pretty sure I have food.....

This is when I first came out.

They all come running,

even though I didn't call them.

They're just making sure they don't miss out if there is any food.

Cyrus is constantly muddy....

And he actually was clean in this picture,

but he is SO not clean now.

He rolled in a huge mud hole,

and is now a mud horse.

Literally caked with mud.

I am so glad spring is finally trying to arrive.

February 2 2011

First,

the weather.

Snowmageddon was kind of a flop.

Oh, we got snow.

Through the night.

And everything today was cancelled, and it actually wasn't that bad out.

The wind last night WAS freaky though....

was kinda scared a giant pine was gonna land on my house.

But, they stayed where they should be, 

upright.

You know how people talk about "whispering pines"?

Well, mine last night were NOT whispering.

They were wailing, howling, and keening.

Scary windy.

So this was what it looked like this morning.

Few flakes in the air.

But the wind had made some impressive drifts...

Looking out toward the road.

Can you see it?

It's this side of the trees.

See, 'cause school was cancelled they didn't bother to plow.

Poor, poor tree.

See the debris from my pines?

Was scattered all over the yard.

Freaky windy, I tell you.

And my poor horse, covered in snow...

Enough about that.

Nathan and I were sitting down to do phonics and reading,

and he asks me,

"Mom, how do kids split up their parents stuff when they die?

Not that I want you to die... I just want to know how they do it."

"Well Nate, hopefully when Dad and I die you'll be grown up and have your own stuff.  So I guess what usually kids do is they sell the stuff and split the money."

"But what if I don't want to sell the stuff?"

"Some times kids keep some of their parents things that are special to them."

"Good, because I don't want to sell anything."

"Okay.  What do you want?"

(Had to ask.)

"Weeeell, you're cell phone of course."

(This is a running joke from when I first got a cell phone and he told me he wanted it when I die.)

"Of course.  I knew that."

"Good, 'cause I called dibs a long time ago."

"Okay, what else do you 'call dibs' on?"

"Hhhmmmm. The fold up chairs."

"Uh, okay."

"That sign."

"Really?  You like that, eh?"

"Yeah."

(Doesn't surprise me.)

This did.

"And I'll take that fern.  And the table it's on, so I can put it somewhere."

"REALLY?!  The fern?"

"Yes.  I like it."

"Okay then.  Anything else?"

"Yes, the TV and the thing it's on, and all the movies."

"Okay, anything else?"

"The bookshelf."

"With the books?"

(He doesn't really like reading.  Like at all.)

"Well yes.  Why have a bookshelf without any books?"

Guess that makes sense.

"Is that it?"

"And the table.  And that's it."

So.

If I die, Nathan has dibs on those items.... kay?

He probably won't want the curly haired centerpiece though....

I asked her what she was doing.

"See my wids?"

(Lids.)

"Yes, I see them."

Here I bump the table and knock of the rock.

"Grrrrrr, Mom, your freatin' me YOUT!"

"Sorry." 

"Why do they have lids?"

"Betause, I yike wids."

Okay.

Had milk and cookies for a bedtime snack.

Ava had to dunk them.

Then she noticed I was taking her picture....

"Mom, these are really good.  You have to make them again."

Goodnight.

I’m Meltiiiiiiing!

The Wizard of Oz freaked me out when I was a kid.



The witch.






She MELTED!




And screamed, “I’m meltiiing, I’m meltiiiing!”
while doing so.




Couldn’t she have melted quietly?




I mean, really.








The reason, I am melting,
is because it’s been 34 degrees here lately, with a humidex
that makes it feel like 43.




What’s that in Fahrenheit?
Like 105?




I don’t really know.


Correct me if I’m wrong.







Anyway.





It’s hot.






Today I couldn’t sit in my house, I had to keep moving, ‘cause then at least there was a bit of air flow.



I have no air conditioning.



And there is no breeze.



None what so ever.




So weird for where I live.





So, I’m outside cleaning my barn, and the sweat was just dripping off me.
I seriously had a river running between my boobs.




It was gross.




And I have been trying to weed my garden.





It’s in a very sad state.




I want to take pictures of all the little things growing, but I couldn’t post them. because of the weeds.



Why is it so bad?





’Cause I missed one week of working in it.



One week.




I went camping, and the beginning of that week I was busy with appointments and such,
and so a whole week went by without me out there.


And now I have a jungle.




Well.




It’s not as bad as I have had.




But it bugs me, ‘cause I was really doing a good job this year on my garden!



So, I went out there today to try and get some more done.



’Cause it’s driving me crazy.





I weeded two rows, and then my vision blurred, I got real dizzy and almost fell over.



And I said to my self,



”Self, I think we’re done.  Time to go in.”



So I did.




But, when I got home from soccer tonight at 8:30, I went out there again.

It was cooler, only 28, and I worked until it was dark.


I actually did last night as well.




I’m becoming the “Night Gardener.”



Sounds cool.





”Just call me, the Night Gardener!”





 

I did get a break from the heat when I went to my Mom’s this afternoon to watch FIFA World Cup.



She has Central Air,
and it is glorious.




But, I don’t know if I’d ever get it.




When I walked into her house I wanted to cry, it was so wonderful.


I had been hot for sooo long.




But here’s the thing.






Walking OUT was torture.






And then I had to go sit on the sideline in the sun and watch the boys play soccer.


With a sleeping three-year-old in my lap.



It was a sweaty mess.





I think if I had Central Air, I would never leave my house.




Ever.





Whereas, now, it’s better outside than in.

At least there is air movement, if not a breeze.







Anyway, that’s my news from today.




Oh, and that it boggles my mind that less than a week ago,
it was so cold after supper that I could see my breath.




And I slept in a coat.






Oh Canada, how I love thee!

But make up your Stinkin’ MIND!








Okay.







Some more pictures of camping.





”The Faces I Love.”





And who belongs to them.












So, it’s not technically his face.
But this is my very favourite cousin, and his daughter.




My very favourite cousins wife.
WE LOVE YOU KATE!
(Did I echo?!  Did I?!?")









My favourite sister-in-law, and my favourite brand new niece.
And Kate.  WE LOVE YOU!




 




Brand new niece.

Little sister, and her gorgeous son.

My dehydrated son

I made him drink water.
Like, a LOT.

The Mom.

She knew I had the camera pointed at her, so she pulled a face.

She always does.

The Dad.


He knew I was taking his picture too.

A little brother.

He’s the Dad of newest niece,
and three others.

Little Brother…

Little brother….

Little brother….

I have another brother, but he didn’t come camping.
Booooo Jay!

Little sister….
I watched this one being born.
I held her when she was three seconds old.
And in another two months she’ll be driving a car.
GAH!

Older sister,
giving me the, “Will you lay off the camera?” look.

And for that she get’s two pictures posted.

Tired camping baby.
He’s the older brother of newest niece.

And a tired Nana!

There were many more people there, but these happened to be the ones
sitting at the campfire when I brought out my camera.




Almost through posting camping pictures, YAY!




There is still some cute ones to share though.






Off I go to sweat my bed.








Goodnight.