More Outside Fun

Well, today was gorgeous.

The sky was actually blue.

(For so long everything has been grey.  Sky, ground, trees... everything.)

And the sun was shining, and it was warm.

And I could almost imagine that it was Spring.

But the air didn't smell right.

You know how Spring smells?

Like dirt, I guess.

It smells like Spring.

But it didn't today.

But it looked and felt like it!!

We took advantage of the warm weather and melting snow and spent the early part of the day 

bringing wood in to the house.

You see, we don't have a woodshed.

The wood was just stacked outside beside the house.

And as the wood pile got lower, the snow got deeper.

And we have had to dig out wood for the past month and a half.

But today, the snow had all melted, and there was our wood,

dwindled down quite a bit.

So we brought it all in.

And got a load of nice dry wood from my FIL as well.

So carried that wood in.

And you know what you get when snow melts?

Mud.

And you know what happens when you make 50,000 trips in and out of the house?

A mud wallow worthy of the pickiest swine.

So, after taking care of the heating of my house for a while,

I scrubbed my floors for an hour.

I didn't take a picture,

'cause it was too depressing.

But, my floors are clean.

I even had to wash walls.....

and all the mats.....

After that was done I went out and cleaned the barn.

Brushed my horse,

and got big slobbery horse kisses,

and my ear nibbled on.

I came in,

covered in woodchips,

mud,

horse poop,

and horse slobber,

and was extremely happy.

Best morning in a while.

The sunshine just really energizes me.

We tidied up the house a bit,

and went off to co-op school!!

We actually did school with the kids this time...

and it was fun.

And of course we visited, laughed, and drank copious amounts of tea.

Didn't take any pictures today,

'cause I was just enjoying the day.

Not that taking pictures isn't enjoyable to me,

it is.

But, somehow,

I just wanted to be present.

Involved, more than observing.

I don't know.

That make any sense?

I do have pics though.

These were taken the same day as the sledding with the horse.

After sledding they decided to build a snowman.

There was teamwork.

Freddy really would like someone to throw his piece of ice.

His head is at his feet:)

"Ava, what are you doing?"

"Building a SNOWMAN!"

"We need free snowballs.  And a cawot for he's nose."

"What's that you have in your hands?"

"Dis is for he's eyeballs, and dis is for he's awms."

"AVA! Don't lick the ice!!"

Just keepin' it real.

Me in my sexy insulated coveralls.

And the work continues.

"Ava, what are you doing?"

No answer,

but there's some intense concentration going on.

"Throw a snowball at you!"

A glimpse of the man he's about to be.

And then my camera battery died.

And by the time it was re-charged,

(and I remembered)

it was dark.

And the next day he was melted.

So, no ending to this story.

Kids and a horse

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Good news....

my head did not explode.

I'm figuring out this whole "Photobucket" thing.

It worked tonight.

(Wildly cheering.)

So, here's some pics from yesterday.

It was mild out,

and I sent the kids outside to work off some energy.

I went out to do chores,

and took my camera with me to snap some shots.

I ended up staying out there with them for 1 1/2 hours.

And here's the stupid thing.

I felt guilty about it....

Why?

'Cause I had SO much to DO!!

But, I reminded myself eventually,

that all too soon they will be grown and gone,

and they won't want pushes down the hill,

or want to push me down the hill.

So I chillaxed, 

as best I could,

and just enjoyed my kids.

And it was awesome.

Here's Quin:

"Can you give us a push?"

And here is where they are sledding.

In the horse pasture.

Like, right next to the horse.

Ava loves Pax.

And Pax finds Ava interesting, and kind of odd.

This is how she would get herself going.

Run and JUMP!!

Emma pouting.

It wasn't her turn with a sled.

And yes, that's electric wire under her arms.

It was off, in case you were wondering.

Nathan, when I told him to give Emma a turn.

"Can I just slide down once more?"

Emma got her turn,

and then she hung out with Pax.

He finds her amusing.

Here's another interesting self portrait.

Can you see me?

Ava had a turn snowboarding...

With Quin beside her the whole way.

He's an excellent big brother.

Ava's "See what I did?" face.

Ava's dejected face,

when it's her brothers turn.

Quin rocks the snowboarding.

When Ava didn't have a sled or snowboard,

she did this.

At bed time she told me,

"Sliding on our bellies doesn't wort."

She prefers sleds.

Horse nose.

Dog with no nose.

And that's it for now!

The pics were kind of jumbled around, sorry.

Still figuring this out.

It takes longer...

but I guess when I put the pics on the computer,

I could upload them right then onto photobucket, right?

Then the actual blogging process won't take too long.

Sorry.

Totally thinking out loud there.

I was reminded of this poem as I was outside feeling guilty.

There's another one I'm thinking of too, with the same gist,

but can't remember it.

This I want to put into practice a little more.

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Camping again

Yes, yes I was.






We left yesterday afternoon, and got back after lunch today.





I have to say again,



I am so thankful for my family.




For their support, and caring.






It was just a few of us this time,
and we solved the worlds problems sitting at the campfire.





Only, the world must have a lot of problems ‘cause it took us till 6:30. 


In the AM.



DOH!




So, I had a nice short nap, and then got up and had coffee, made bacon and eggs,
packed up and came home to my chickens.

I am very tired.






I am way too old to do this anymore.



We need to stop having such interesting conversations!











I am only up this late because I had to watch the World Cup final.



I didn’t watch it this afternoon, as I had to unpack, do chores, etc, etc.



I watched the replay tonight.

And it went into overtime.

Not a satisfactory game at all.


Very biased referee, it seemed to me.

And a lot of diving from Spain.





Grrrrr.


Not a good game.





That’s what I’ve been up to.












Random pics from last weeks camping trip:

 

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.