Lets go crazy..lets get NUTZ

It never rains but that it pours, wha'?

Now my appliances have decided to have break downs of a sort. My appliances that are only 2 years old..not EVEN 2. We bought them in March 2005 but they weren't delivered until we took possession of this house in May 2005. Ok..now that I see that in type, lets call 'er two years.
Thursday, washer decides its not gonna run. I fix it by draining it and cleaning the filter. Yay, Handyme.
Last night there is water on the laudry room floor. I did no laundry yesterday..whats up with that. Pulling out the washer shows a pool of water under the washer and dryer. We pull out both, wipe up water....pop of crap stick on tiles to see wet plywood with a bit of mildew. Heat goes up, fan is brought in, Lysol is sprayed repeatedly. It seems the hot water connection has been dripping. Today I cleaned intake filters (Yay, Handyme!) and we still are waiting to put the appliances back into place. Need some flooring or new crap tiles.
A while back a door shelf on my 2 year old beautiful Frigidaire came off. Yesterday it came off again.
This morning i slept in and when I got up I had the house to myself!! Wheee. then I saw the glass interior shelf of said Frigidaire is proped against the kitchen wall with the plastic framing of it all broken. My 2 year old Stainless Fucking Steel Exterior Frigidaire!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Breaking down like some old cheap ass piece of CRAP. Refrigerator people!! Oy! Put METAL framing back into your interiors PLEASE!!!!
There is seriously not enough coffee for this.

What a friggin' week........

Ben is still getting bad behaviour reports from school (except for today) and since this is going on HM decided in his infinite wisdom (sarcasm) that we should reduce Ben's meds rather than increase since his behaviour is still bad (anger issues). This after i spent 5 hours at the CLSC getting his prescription chnged for the higher dose... The new dosage helps his focus and attention for the school work but has no improvement on the hair trigger temper. Anyhoo, This creatyed a major rift in the ol' parental team yesterday but we worked it out and are seeking counselling/therapy for Ben and us for dealing with his temper outbursts etc. we found a learning disabilities association tooo!!!! YAY!!!! I can feel the hope rising..despair departing..
Also, there are summer camps for brats...I mean...special needs children like Ben. Cost a mint but the change of atmosphere and learning better social skills from someone else (might actually sink in???) may be of huge benefit all around. Which brings us to boats....
As in..Looks like this isn't the year after all. HM has been crunching the numbers..with needing to change his old beat up Echo for something more road worthy, needing counselling etc for ben, the fact taht the boats we looked at needed more work than we had hoped...its all adds up to him going mental trying to make it happen. I was willing to work in a strict budget for him to make it happen but he thinks its best to wait.
So, this year is no boat but less crazy man. Also, this year we can work at paying off more debt to loosen up the monthy coffers and maybe buy a NEW boat rather than a fixer upper next year.
I was wondering how he thought he was gonna make boat and newish car payments but didn't push the matter cuz he gets tetchy when I question his fiscal expertise. Its better for him to come to these realizations on his own.
Today I did a major grocery shopping in order to avoid trips to the market. I am trying to reduce our grocery budget to make Ben's help more affordable. Fewer trips means fewer unnecessary expenditures (in theory).
Also, I got a couple of new bras because my sister yelled at me for not using enough support. As if there is such a thing. Chyeah...right. Anyhoo, bought 3 nice ones at La Senza in an effort to boost these babies up where they belong so that unfortunate incidents like todays will not be so commonplace. What happened? you ask with concern...
Well, I'll tell ya what happened. I wore a blouse today. With buttons. Thanks to not enough boost in the bust the buttons were a bit strained...until they undid themselves without my knowledge. I discovered this at the check out. Oops a button undone..wait..another..and another...........
So, about 4 buttons in my blouse were undone in the boobular area at the grocery store. For an uncertain length of time....
I am sooo fucking cool.

I was Tagged....

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes:

1) For some reason people find me funny and the more they laugh the funnier I become. It might have something to do with liquor...I'm not sure.
2) I love my mother but she makes me crazy because I have no patience.
3) I consider myself fairly low maintenence but my husband does not. Baffling.
4) I love girly girl stuff like clothes, shoes, makeup and hair but am too fat and lazy to actually make an effort and use/do said girly girl things unless I really have to.
5) I drank an exhorbitant amount of alcohol in University. And not a giggly girly "Oh I am sssooo drunk after one beer" amount either. I drank like a longshoreman and I think I enjoyed it too. Its all a bit blurry....
6) I resent being treated differently because I am a woman but resent NOT being treated differently as well. IE) I like the nice stuff of being treated like a female but HATE the stupid stuff like the idea that I can't do something because of my chromosomes or won't understand something. Thats just gonna get you a whole lotta nasty from me. But thanks for openning the door for me, bringing me presents, or taking out the trash.
7) If ever I am single again I will NOT remarry. EVER. Seriously..never. HM feels the same way. Funny, no?

I tag noone but if those who swim on by would enjoy blogging their 7 factoids about themselves I encourage them to let me know so's I can read them.

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

This is my weekend but the pictures are all out of order because I suck at this stuff that way.

This is me and my gurrrls Marla and Barb...Barb is in the middle. She is a knitter extraordinaire as well as homesteader that I became friends with when I had my shop. She was just starting to get into the animals then and I had disposed of my flock. She's oringinally from Poland and a former Canadian Armed Forces member.

Marla is a sailor girl since she is married to a thoroughly boat addicted man. And she can fix just about anything!!!!!! We hooked up in Bridgewater to gab and rummage through the bins at Frenchy's. I got a garbage bag load of clothes for the kids for 53 bucks. Gap..Ralph Lauren..LL Bean..
This is my latest stash enhancement. While on our way to Bridgewater saturday morning after seeing a boat in Chester, we stopped in Mahone Bay for coffeee and since we were there I had to hit Have A Yarn on Main St, the best yarn shop on the south shore. Heather had box of Fleece Artist seconds and I could have spent much much more than I did. You know, I really need to be independently wealthy some day....anyhoo, at 85 cents per 10 grams it was a savings of more than 50% and I have enough Fleece Artist sock yarn now for 6 pair o'socks.
How luscious is THAT?? And FA seconds skein is better than anything at Walmart. Seriously.

This is what we awoke to on Thursday morning, the day of the long drive East. Made longer still by.......

THIS!!!!!!!!! Lovely driving conditions we had as an April storm decided to hit Eastern Canada. Piss me offf.. It slowed us down considerably.
And going through New Brunswick was NO BETTER!!
Yet it was all worth it to sit at the table Friday morning, sipping coffee and gabbing with the mother of these gorgeous offspring Heather and Scamper.......
Scamper's favorite position is up on the shoulder so's he can be snuggled long time. He's no longer a youngster, being a much older brother to his human sister.
We basically vegged out Friday until Jessie called to say she'd returned home from an outting and then we descended on her and Harvey like fleas on a juicy juicy dog. All 6 of us. Jessie had handme downs for me and Julie and a lovely visit and wardrobe enhancement was thoroughly enjoyed. I got some kick ass stuffs and what was too small for my girth sometimes fit Julie. We are a similar build and size but my chest is broader.

Friday night we hung out at Julies sipping shiraz and eatting and visiting with Julie's Pal Dawn who brought he daughter samantha with her. Sam is Heather's best pal so all 4 kids had a blast together. Once the kids were abed us two mommies stuffed plastic eggs with candy and laid out the Saturday Morning Mommy Made Egg Hunt because Heather would be off with her Dad the rest of Easter weekend. These guys had such a fun time!! Too funny.

Saturday: egg hunt...in the car boat "shopping"....Frenchy's and Yarn shop...errands.... Dropped the boys at Jessie's for the evening so HM, me, Julie, and her friend Janice could go see 300 at the Imax. What an awesome flick I must say. I was rivetted. But while we were enjoying ourselves the snow outside that had begun late in the day had gotten much much worse. We retrieved our kidlets from the spoilings of Aunty Jessie who had taken THEM to a movie, and went back to Julie's to feast on DONAIRS!!!!! and discuss the movie. Janice stayed over because of the snow and because..well, who'd want to leave such scintillating entertainment and company??

Sunday.. the boys found what the Bunny left them, we visited my brother Ian and his wife, HM cooked supper for us at Julie's while I visited with my sister again. An earlier night was had Sunday night and Monday morning it was back on the road to come home. How's that for a weekend????????????????

Dontcha wish your weekend was fun like mine? Dontcha wish your weekend was as hot as mine??(channeling the Pussycat Dolls right now)

For Your Easter/Passover Giggles.

Peeps For Passover http://www.flickr.com/photos/17025280@N00/sets/72157600038845249/detail/

New Show Alert

Sunday April 15th on Fox the premier of Drive will be on starring the yummy Nathan Fillion, formerly Captain Tightpants of Firefly.
YAY!!!!!!!!!! yayayayayayayayayayayayayay

Tuesday

Two more sleeps! We are all getting so excited. The kids because they get to miss an extra day of school even though it will be spent in a car, and also they love staying with Julie and Heather. They have also expressed looking forward to seeing Aunty Jessie, my sister, as she is their favorite aunty ever. She loves them SO much and it really really comes through. Kids respond to that so well. Plus of all the aunties she is the one that is most familiar.
We hope to go out Saturday night and see 300, leaving the boys with Aunty Jessie.
From topstitchgirl's blog I got this home waxing recipe http://topstitchgirl.blogspot.com/2007/02/sugar-waxingpilation-au-sucre.html
I am trying to work up my courage and try it. Hawaii is coming fast and furious as is summer and it would be nice to reduce my razor dependency..especially since I am semi forgetful and during winter thats ok but not so much in summer when one goes sleevless and pantlegless, and in bathingsuits. The thing is..I have an aversion to pain. Razors only hurt if you make a mistake. Waxing hurts when you do it right...how is this logical or an encouragement? Another reason guys should treat us with tenderness because being a woman is not easy and is very confusing.
So, I talked big on Saturday and said I'd have that sleeve done. Its not. BUT I will knit on it in the car. HM likes to do a lot of the driving (doesn't trust me) so I should have several hours of knitting time if I don't fall asleep. The car does that to me.
I am happy about a discovery i made yesterday. Since I moved here the only place I knew to find a good selection of English Language magazine was Chapters..down town Montreal or out in Pointe Claire. Yesterday I hit the Laval Loblaws and while perusing their sad selection I asked a stranger lady where the good magazine selection was in Laval. She told me to try Archambault. I had no idea what that was though I had seen the sign for that store. Turns out its like a french HMV but with magazines and books too. Even english language ones! YAY! I looked but I ended up not buying, though tempted by the current issues of Simply Knitting and Vogue Knits. There are some great knit tank topes etc in the pattern books these day to whip up for summer in cottons and silks. Tempted I am...fat assed arms I have. Knitting sleeveless tops I don't think I will.
So that is it for me for now.
I am hoping that Ben has a good day today. The three of us talked last night after HM came home and has time to destress after avery bad day at work. We wanted Ben to know that he is understood and that we have those feelings too so we know where he is coming from...that said we emphasized how lashing out is something he can not do and we need to find ways to control the urge. He has been given ideas and tools over the last 9 years of tantrums etc and we continue to advise him to use them and refresh his memory. Deep breaths, walking away, counting to 10 or higher, plugging his ears and closing his eyes to ignore a pestering peer..... He lost his bike for a week, computer priviledges and today he has already lost TV for losing it with Cameron at the bus stop. Hello brick wall? Meet my head..repeatedly.

Parenting Abyss.... Not a happy post.

I love my children. I really really do. Unfortunately I find the whole parenting gig really overwhelming and spend much time escaping to my happy place.
My happy place is failing me these days with my first born. He has had anger issues since...ummm...oh I dunno...BIRTH?? No, actually more like from the age of one. He was diagnosed in late 2004 as A.D.D ( and no it is not just a label or an excuse to medicate a child to try and fix them. Come at me with that tired rhetoric and I swear to your Jesus, Buddah, or whoever, I will bitch slap you into next week. Seriously. Do not go there with me. Seriously.)
The child has major frustration with the world around him. It takes almost nothing for it to overflow. Lately this has gone into the the realm of smacking kids at school that are "annoying" him. Kids tease. They bug. You ask them to stop and they are gonna do it even more. This is his situation. And he does not handle it well. I see his side of it and I feel for him. I really do. We have talked about no hitting. No lashing out when he gets so frustrated and angry. No hitting unless someone is hitting you. Yes defend yourself but teasing and pestering is not a time for hitting. Since Christmas he has had a few hitting situations. He brought home notices and recieved what we thought were punishments adequate to the situation. We have talked, cajoled, taken away privledges, and yes we have even yelled.
Its ...not...working...
I just want to sit and cry. For my child. For me. For our family as we weather storm after emotional storm with this person who cannot seem to gain the upperhand over his temper. I am tired. Tired of shielding his father from it because the man has enough stress and tired of shielding my son from the big angry yelly man called Daddy when yet another notice comes home. We are fed up and have lost patience. I have days where I do not like this person I gave birth to because of how he speaks to us or how he loses his temper over small potatoes even here at home, his sanctuary.
I think its time for therapy. For him and for us. Because nothing else is working.
I really really really want a drink. And lots of inappropriate unhealthy food.

Musings.........

I did in fact have a rather sleepless night. The last time I got up and prowled was around 3ish AM. I camped out on the sofa in order to let HM sleep without my tossing or getting up repeatedly to wander around. BOY are floors squeaky at 3 am!!! Who knew.
So now I have some energy nectar known as coffee and am contemplating my day. I think I should venture to the wilds of Laval or Repentigny in order to visit a Loblaws which are almost EXACTLY like the Superstores back home. My favorite grocery store. HM did some grocery shopping on Saturday, picking up my slack, but he doesn't get all the right stuffs and in the right quantities. But thats ok because he does buy stuffs that I usually don't and variety IS the spice of life.
My 2 AM Poem that I kinda remember:

What made life grand for Mrs. Mimsy
Was infusing it with a touch of whimsy.
Things like: Twinklelights and fairies
For the scarecrows on the Prairies
And fantastical fish
Adorning her cat's food dish
Made her smile
And made a day worthwhile.
Yes, bits of whimsy
made life so joyous for Mrs Mimsy
But made the neighbors think her grip on reality
Was a little flimsy.

I had another that included a reference to Dennis Lee (poet) but I forget it. I don't make up good poems, I know but they are fun . I still remember a pinch of my Mrs Myra Mudbottom poem/story of about 11 years ago. I think I threw it out though in a fit of decluttering. I hate that I do that. I write a story, poem or lyric and then consider it worthless...only to need it months or years later. DOH. While I thoroughly enjoy my forays into rhyme most folk are not appreciative and tend to look at it as silly and lacking in proper meter or any other myriad of critiques. Alls I know is that I wish I hadda got up and wrote the Dennis Lee one down.
Something about how making rhyme is sublime blah blah and seperates us from species that fling feces...something something about cats yadda yadda And if you don't believe me, Just ask Dennis Lee. Thats the gist of the subject anyhoo.
Aaaah insomnia..the great inspirationer. (my blog..I am allowed to make up words)

Sunday Night into Monday Morning

I slept in so good this morning and now I am paying the price. I am still WIDE awake as if I drank coffee allllll afternoon which I did not. Seriously. Not ALL afternoon anyways.
Ok..so yesterdays freakfest of parenting ended well. Ben now has a new independence of movement ..he is now able and somewhat allowed to go to the park and to some kids house to play and the kid was here to play too. I am still freaked out and tummyachey about the whole dealio but the kid IS almost 10 and should be able to leave the range of my voice. Which is actually quite a distance if I stop to think about it. Which I will not. So...day one of the new limits was a resounding success.
I told ya all about Friday's shoppin's. I also hit the Dollarama yesterday and got lots and lots of stuffs. Plant pots so my poor hoya can FINALLY be repotted. I thought I would divide it so I got two pots but then I didn't bother so i had a big pot leftover. I got yarns and needles for Marla's little knitter Maranda. Ummmm....lets see. Jeez louise I spent like 30 plus bucks but thats all I can remember. Oh yeah..magazine storage doohickeys for my cooking magazines, boxes to starts sorting photos into, a binder for Ben to store his artworkings from school, Page protectors for said art, a wee storage box for wee things which i will use for stitch marker makings, beads for said stitch marker makings.... I love Dollarama.
Today I slept in late late late...11:30!!! The day was half gone!!! I jumped out of bed and was leaving the bathroom when HM handed me the phone saying "Call for you..." I answered the phone to hear "April fools day Mommy!!!!!!!!!" in Ben's voice. he was on the other phone downstairs. Aaaahhhhh yes...the April Fools Pranksing began. HM got Ben but Ben was NOT impressed. Cammeron got HM with a little help from me and was thrilled that daddy ..." He fell fow it Mummy!! He weally fell fow it!!!" which may not be the actual full truth but it made his 8 yr old heart glad so we will leave it go.
The prank was to go outside where Daddy was cleaning the cars out and tell him that Mommy lost her chequebook at the mall. Then just as HM's veins began to bulge and throb at his temples Cammie was to yell April Fools! I did not watch the show as I was in the basement laundry room potting up today's exciting find..a 10 dollar Gardenia plant from Rona. I went forth today in search of cheap garden soil and found no Cheap ones. So I got a Gardenia plant...my first!! Good thing I got that spare pot yesterday!! Its all potted up and looking good in the green room's window.
HM and I cleaned the cars today. 4 More sleeps to NS so HM figured we better get the Volvo clean for the ride and he cleaned his Echo too. Cammie and I washed the outside of the big V and I vacuumed a bit. The tempo was also taken down until next Fall. The driveway looks so open and tidy now!
I Vacuumed the house a bit too. Was sorely needed. The laundry was piled up again so thats been attacked with gusto. The washer is still running as we speak..I mean..as I type. The sleeve on the sweater is over 6 inches long now and my concern is that its not reducing in diameter fast enough. I will not worry too much though. It is meant to be nice and loose/baggy.
It was a busy weekend but also very relaxed.
FOUR MORE SLEEPS!!!!!!!

Milestones ...{insert sounds of anxiety here}

Ok..as a parent we have to prepare ourselves for milestones in our childrens lives and development. I know that. Everyone knows that. What i don't understand is why we have to have the stomachaches etc that go with it.
Today...sigh..oh this is so hard.....{more muffled groans and whimpers of anxiety and worry}
Ok.
TodayweletBengowitht2otherkidstotheparkonhisbike. gaspgaspgasp
As he left, joyous in his new found independence, we turn to each other with wide eyes and my husband was the first to say 'We are so not ready for this!!!" We held each other.
Oh Gods......

FRIDAY

We are less than a week to "take off" wherein we will be takin' off for the right coast (East). Yay!
So today I was very lazy. After the kids went to school I went back to bed. Oh Gods it felt SO good. The right thing to do apparently. But nothing else got done.
Lunchtime was the usual except I chatted with Barb which was very fun. Again, beyond feeding children, nothing got done. After I took them back to school I had the stroke of brilliance and decided to go to Walmart for Easter stuffs. On the way I thought..hmmm whats on sale at l'Equipeur and when i left there I had an outfit for Hawaii. Whhoooopsy! How'd that happen?? heeheee
Oh man I had fun. I prowled the sale racks but though there were HEAPS of things on sale I was on a mission. I tried on several things but what wowed me was these cute striped pants. They are light beige with fine faded turquoise and white striping, wide leg cropped pant. Cottony fabric. Even though they are a cropped pant I still need to shorten them. Everything else went back to the racks and began a hunt for stuff to go with these awesome pants. I tried several things but what was "right" was this white lightly fitted blouse. They had it in a great subtle turquoise too but the white is what did it for me..very odd. To get two looks I also got a white cotton lace trimmed camisole so i can go buttoned up or open. Then i saw purses. ooopsy. Well one needs a summery purse for hawaii right? Right. I got this cute beige crochet jobbie with a fake leather strap. Excellent shoulder bag. So..entire outfit that can have two looks plus a shoulder bag= Total....$99 and change. Not bad if I do say so myself. Man I love l'Equipeur.
I also learned something. I cannot wear a skort. "Nuff said.
I finally got to Walmart and began selecting candy and treats and wee gifties for the Easter bunny to bring the boys. Bike accessories for their new bikes and some books.
I also finally found a 16 inch 5mm needle and will knit the sleeve on to it ASAP. Should go muuuuuch faster when I don't have to switch needles all the time.
Lost another fish yesterday..the blue gourami was a floater when I turned on the aquarium light.
That is all. Have a groovy night.

Sweater progress- Wednesday

I gots me some shoulders in this sweater now!! My first ever seamed knitting. I used the backstitch technique to sew it up because nothing else was giving me the result I wanted. I think its ok for a first sweater. Now for picking up and knitting sleeves and the neck.

I am uncommonly thrilled with this. the anxiety is much less now. It actually is LOOKING LIKE A REAL SWEATER now. heeheeheeee

T'is Tuesday

9 days to going back home for a visit. I am getting antsy. It won't be long enough to see everyone that I'd like to see but its better than a boot to the head. I takes what I can gets.
I asked HM whether he had checked Nova Scotian job opportunities in his field and/or with his company lately. Taken by surprise a bit he said "uuumm no..Why?". Just wondering I replied and continued to look out the window at the passing country/city side as we drove. I think that got him to wondering if I was getting homesick again which I'm not...at least not anymore than usual. Its a great life here do not get me wrong but I am still not "home" here exactly. I AM trying and its very nice here indeed! For sure. Really.
Anyhoo that brought a discussion on how long he thinks we need to stay here..house equity etc and so forth. I listened and said ok in all the right places. This summer should take care of all the home longings. Then I will want to come back here (home)..LOL. Nothing like having a proper roof over your head eh? Home is where th heart and roof is.
On to other stuffs:
Its Tuesday and the snow is melting more and more now that it is truly Spring. I can see some of the flower beds and the neighbor's encroaching monster lilac has obvious buds. I am eager for my crocuses etc to poke their wee heads up. I planted enough of the little frigger's last Fall...there ought to be one or two what survived eh?
I did NO knitting yesterday. It was a day of laundry. I still have many loads to go before I rest but the baskets are towering and toppling so I guess some needs to be put away before I wash dry and fold more. Ugh. I also cleaned the aquarium. The fish were grateful. HM's angel fish is sooooo much bigger than when we got it in January. It was so small at the time... body the size of a nickle with fins on top of that. Now I'd have to say its at least the size of a toonie. All other fish seem healthy and happy too.Maybe we should get a couple more gourami fishes or something.
I just finished re-reading the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. I have changed my opinion of book 4 now. I thought it was a piece of crap compared to the first 3 but having read them altogether this time I find it does its job. The others just seem to have so much more happening and this one just seems to build up with little resolution. But doing a re-read is good because I picked up on stuffs I missed before.
Now I am reading an early kathy Reichs novel. Possibly the first one... Deja Dead. Its so much better than the one I read first which is a much later novel. I'm glad bookstore lady recommended I try her earlier stuffs before writing her books off completely. If you like murder mystery with a focus on evidence then try her on for size. Whats nice is that it doesn't focus on the grisly acts themselves in detail of the doing but the aftermath and the folk that deal with the bodies of the slain.
I find that books that detail the sick and freaky crimes the writer can come up with creep me out too much now as I get older. I was very disgusted with a particular John Grisham novel that detailed the abuse suffered by a character. Its like the atrocities just get worse and worse as humanity's threshold gets higher and higher. As if true tales of atrocity aren't bad enough ( and they aren't broadcast on a large scale because thats so horrible we can't show these TRUE things on Tv or in the newspaper), fiction writer's have the burden of imagining ever awfuller (its my blog I can make up words if I want) deaths and disasters just in order to get published because readers hunger for something to move them..and since we have all become so comfortably numb that calls for something horrific. Thats what i think anyways.
So,...Deja Dead is pretty good so far. Sweater not worked on yesterday. Laundry devouring my basement. Fish happier. 9 days to going home. That about covers whats in my brain at the moment.

Monday

Yesterday we had an appointment to take our first look see at a sailboat for sale. It was a Grampian 34. We didn't have high hopes since the boat is over 30 years old but the price was kind of high so who knew? Maybe it would be in awesome condition??! Well, guess what..it wasn't. What are some people thinking when the slap a price tag on something??
The interior was smelly and kind of dark. The centered cockpit, a design feature of the boat that we were curious to see meant a great deal of lost space. The cabins were not well laid out. Things were shabby and run down. Basically she would take a lot of work to make pretty and comfortable and obviously was not used for a lot of cruising...more for day sailing I think.
The sun canopy outside was shabby too with small holes here and there. Seriously, this guy is really looking for a sucker if he hopes to get his asking price. She may be seaworthy-ish but for that price on this boat one expects to see something really outstanding. Marla's man, who is my Oracle Of All Things Boaty so now we will call him OOATB, is a sailing enthusiast with LOTS of knowledge being a marine engineer and yacht surveyor. When I described to him the boat then gave him the price he let out a noise of surprise since the asking price, in his knowledgeable opinion, was DOUBLE what it should be for this boat. Besides the shabby factor, this boats design wasn't all that I had hoped. Getting around on deck was very tight, with little walking space on the sides..I am sure there is a technical term for this but I know nothing so i will call it the walky places on the sides.. There was barely space to put your feet!
So, one boat down, a few to go. We will be looking over a few in NS over the long weekend and are really looking forward to it since they are newer boats of better design (in our opinion).
The guys had neighbor boy overnight last night and it went surprisingly well. We really gotta let them have more sleep overs. My issue is that I can't communicate with the visitor very well so it raises my stress level. Last night was an unplanned spontaneous sleep over. Remember those? When ya beg your mom to let your bestest friend to sleepover pleeeeeeeeaaaase? I remember those. Man, I was always either at my friend's place or she was at mine. Good times. When I was really young is was my friend Sonya. Then in grade six it was Lisa. Later it was Lisa or Carrie Anne.
I wonder how they all are doing.
Sweater moves slowly since I have to purl each second row and I am an ambivalent purler. Had dreams about having my needles break and needing to return them because they were flawed or something. What I really need is more hands and a housekeeper because I cannot knit fast enough to satisfy my own need for getting it done and starting a new project. I refuse to fall into the trap that I usually set for myself..the one where I don't finsih things because a new idea steals my attention. The sock in my purse is for knitting while HM drives us somewhere and the sweater is for knitting on at home. But I want to knit other things too like a sweater for Cammie, for me, more socks, mittens, more sweaters, hats....
Know what it is? Its the yarn. Its so tempting and inspiring that it make syou itch to get something else on the needles. I refuse. I am being STRONG dammit.
But oh geez that new Colinette sock yarn at Ginette's is driving me crazy with its siren's song............

My Friday night

As I have mentioned before, I love going to Effiloche for their Friday night stitching gatherings. I only go every two weeks because thats when Andre Anne can go (we met there and have lots in common). Also, Danna comes when she can and she's a sweathgeart. They tell me they are reading this so please note the NICE THINGS I AM SAYING about them. And Ginette and Celine at Effiloche, my favourite Montreal yarn shop in the St Hubert Promenade (Shop Big!! Shop Often!!) always make me feel so welcomed. Its wonderful.
The very first night I went I won yarn. About a month ago I won another ball of yarn. Last night..I won a book. heeheee Friday Night Knitting Club is a novel making the knitterly circuits and is in great demand.
Since someone said something that triggered my "trivia" center thus making the answer of Musk Ox EXPLODE from me at great volume, I was the winner of the question round. Its a very embarrassing affliction I have that when the light goes on its accompanied by my loud voice. I startle people a lot. I don't mean to do it. I try not to. Its an involuntary reaction like, say, blinking..only louder and dangerous to those around me with bad hearts.
Anyhoo, so gal-I-don't-know said ox which made the answer musk ox blurt from me making me the official winner. I chose to make the woman the recipient though because I have won twice before and I don't want it to look like the contests are fixed or rigged or whatever. Plus she said "ox" which was part of the answer. Maybe they should start having the trivia contests when I'm not there.
I made a yummy hummus style bean dip/spread. You know me, I don't measure when concocting so do the best ya can if you try it. Recipe follows:
Mixed Bean Dip/Spread
can (s) of 6 beans mixed (or any number..this is what I used) :2
FRESH mint leaves :entire bunch
garlic: about 2 1/2 tablespoons
cumin: about 2 teaspoons or so
olive oil: about 1/4 cup or less
salt and pepper: 1/2 teasoon salt each
lime juice: 1/4 cup
peanut butter OR tahini: 2 teaspoons or so
Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Refrigerate and allow flavours to develope.
Remember that I didn't measure so these are estimated amounts..I may have used more so concoct to taste. Also, this made a biggish batch so feel free to half it. Its awesome on pita bread, with crackers or vegetables or any way you enjoy hummus.

I tried Ben's sweater on him for size now that the back is cast off and the back neck stitches on a yarn for holding. Its big..and long..But not ridiculously so. It will fit him for a couple years or so before becoming too small for him to wear. He is loving it. "Look at my sweater!' he cried out to his brother and dad. sigh...I wish they stayed that happy with Mommy made things. He encouraged me to finish it today to which I hooted with laughter.
Today was the test at Karate class for the menfolk. H-M is now a yellow belt!!! The boys are half yellow half white belts now. I am way proud. This class took so long that we are not skiing today and since they passed the class H-M promised a trip to the Movies today. TMNT here we come. I had discussed the possibility of catching this flick with AA and her kids next week but HM didn't know that and the promise was made. Sorry Andre Anne!!!
Tomorrow I must miss the Montreal Knits gandg at Cafe Castel because we are going to look at our first boat prospect. Its a Grampian 34 ketch. We will look at more boats in NS Easter weekend before any decisions or offers are made. There is something about this boat that appeals to me more so than the others but I am not the Captain, only the very inexperienced crew. Captain is experienced but rusty after so many years of not sailoring and since his stint at the maritime school in Rimouski. This makes going out on the ocean a very "eeek"-y prospect for me but adventure calls stronger than fear. On a boat I am like a dog hanging its head out a car window. I love it scariness and all. Except if seasickness strikes...thats not pretty. Always remember ..on a boat, throw up and pee facing DOWN wind. This is about all I know.

Pictures

Work continues on the sweater. I was all happy with it until I reread the patter and discovered neck shaping instructions..oops. Now the Front is the Back since they are the same until the neck and I went too far for the front neck shaping. Barb has been some help but the advice like " You know..most intructions advise you to READ the pattern before you start blah blah blah blah" has not been AT ALL helpful thanks very much! So here are pictures of the progress on the sweater AND a lovely Spring card I recieved in the mail from above mentioned unhelpful advice giover. Its sooo purty.

The Reveal........

Ok...the books aren't in the bookcase yet and there is still some tidying to do (moving a piece of furniture out and putting the ladder away) but this is the room after the painting and reaarangement..Taaah Daaaaaaaaah.

As done as I can be

If I ever say I'm going to paint a room again..shoot me. At least if its a room with wainscotting and mouldings. What a pain in the arse.
The painting is as done as I am going to get it. Lots left over so I am thinking that eventually the cellar way will get a fresh coat. I am wiped. Was trying to get everything just so for when HM got home tonight but as I was reassembling the room he arrived home. VERY impressed he was too until he looked at the floor. Oops.
As soon as the light fixture is replaced and the books in the case I will snap a picture and post it. For now it just feels good to be able to walk through my livingroom again without tripping on something from the breakfast room.
The whole room looks so fresh and vibrant now. I am really happy with my choice in colours. Now, for new window treatment........

Sweater woes

I don't have enough paint to apply a second coat of green so tomorrow I will boogie over to Canadian Tire for another can of my colour. Since no further painting could be done today, I decided to sit down with Ben's sweater. From talking with my mom and Barb I was sure I was supposed to cast off some stitches for the armpits of the seater before I could work whats left of the front and back separately. Eventually i got it all straightened away and was working on my second row of the front but something was nagging at me. Something about this just wasn't right. My original intention had not been to cast off armpit so it was still niggling that something wasn't right about it for this sweater. I pulled out the pattern that I am basing this sweater upon and sure enough..no casting off for armpits..body pieces are straight. ARGH!!!!!! It took me almost an hour to get back to where all my stitches were on one circular needle again, in the correct number and none dropped. Then to knit back up again to where I can work the front and back separately I had to laborously go through a first row of twisted wonky stitches from the frogging and pick up. Finally said row was done and all stitches were smoothed and straightened. I did another just to feel better. NOW I am ready to knit half of my 180 stitches onto a pair of straights to work the front while the back is held waiting on the circs.
Why am I doing this the hard way??? one might ask, and to be sure it is a good question. I have a pattern, why not follow it? The answer is just that I wanted it done in the round rather than in parts (because I hate purling and if I can avoid it I will) and I wanted it made to fit the wearer, not just to the dimensions of the pattern. So by combining the independence of Elizabeth Zimmerman's techniques for making sweaters in any size and the shape of the sweater in the pattern, I am hoping to create a sweater that is uniquely Ben's.

The first coat of green is on

I am exausted.

Me so haaaaappppyyyy

My Marla is back! My Marla is back!! She called me tonight cuz she's baaaaaaccckkk!!
She and her family were on their 3rd annual winter "cruise" down south since January (they have taken to leaving their sailboat in Florida for the summers now so's they can cruise in the winters)and I have been at loose ends without her being home where she usually is. I almost called her at least once a week only to go"DOH..down south". She called me once from somewhere in the Caribbean and I had the occassional email. Just..not..enough..
But NOW??! She's back and all is once again right in the world......or at least as right as my world gets. Plus, she gots a new vehicle!! Really NEW, not new-ish! Now I don't have to worry that her ass is gonna drop out on the road like everytime she drove her old van. Oh my Gods its a wonder the poor thing still moved!! I can't wait to see her new family wheels. Squeee!
I am very content this evening. Could be the AWESOME roast beef I made that had HM raving in honor of its awesomeness and him begging me to remember what I did and do it like this everytime...or it could be the red wine I am sipping now. I'm betting its the wine...and the raving was very nice too.

Work commences

After about 2 hours I have 2 walls primed and about 1/2 the crown mouldings. Slow you say? Well..lemme tell ya...

First I had to find my step ladder. Turns out, its broken. I hoped it wasn't tooooo broken and after I got about 3 ft of moulding primed, and it turns out it WAS too broken (paint spill number one). So I cleaned up sloshed and dripped paint and put the broken ladder outside and headed to RONA for a new ladder. At RONA noone seemed to be available to get a ladder down for me and so after waiting for service from the people with "SERVICE" on their shirts that seemed to be scurrying everywhere but in my direction, I took matters into my own hands. A youngish man came along and asked if I wanted some help (he didn't work there) but I said, I got this far on my own I may as well finish it. He laughed and said service was not a thing easily come by at this store.

I grabbed another pack of plastic sheeting, checked out and headed home. Got back to priming mouldings and trim.

The kids came home. Then I had "help". Eventually the kid next door called and the boys left to play. Then I finished up priming these two walls, cleaned up paint off the floor and took these photos. I remember now why I hate painting. Its never as simple as I think its gonna be. Or as easy. And always muuuuch messier.

It would be so much easier if the room was empty of all furnishings so that I could maneuver easier. Maybe thats my problem. Too much stuff in the way.

Thursday

Today I got a great deal on some man sandals for HM. Klondike Timberline sport sandals that regularly sell for $69.99 on clearance for $19.99. $50 dollar savings..not too shabby. The Easter Bunny will bring them and they will be excellent for on the boat (non marking sole) or hikey walks. I bought my primer and my ceiling paint, rollers and plastic for covering furniture and floor. Now I have a conundrum..what to do about the ceiling medallion?
This is a smallish room with crown mouldings and there is a ceiling medallion from which hangs a rustic style chandelier (NON sparkly..looks like rusted iron with little linen type shades over the bulbs). Right now this medallion is painted the same colour as the ceiling.
I was wondering if it would be a home decor faux pas to A) paint it same as walls, B)antique it with wall colour or C) blend wall and ceiling colours to make a lighter green and antique it with that. What would Debbie Travis do?????? Probably leave it same as ceiling..... sigh.
Another case of bath tub cat poo today. HM hit the roof and demands the culprit be put to death...as soon as we figure out who the culprit is. Its still looking like its Flash even though she was out all night. It wasn't there when HM got up but was there when he went for his shower (after she came back in and ate and after (possibly)Miss Kitty had gone out). So its not looking good for Flash.
The sweater is going great after fixing the stripes. I am in the home stretch of the colors across the chest and then comes arm pit casting off, so I am told. Woohoo.
Remember my book that I couldn't get? Well, I ordered a different one now since I had the gift card an all. Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This is the 3rd of her books that I will have in my collection and I had ordered it in the hopes that The Baby Surprise Jacket pattern was in it and/ or the Adult Surprise Jacket Pattern. They aren't. (doh) The Bog Jacket pattern is though so thats good cuz I likes that one too. I talk about this as if anyone but me cares but its my blog dammit and I care!
Also, a can of paint tipped over and fell on my big toes a couple hours ago and it STILL HURTS. Poor Ben ran for cover when the screeching curses started..literally! The child RAN.
I am a bad mother.

Invasion

Spring is on its way if the recent temperatures are any indication. With the warmth comes damp and with warmth and damp come the invasion of sowbugs in my basement.

Our basement is one of the finished variety and very comfortable indeed. Alas, under all the "finished" there still lurks a basement and like most basements, its a great place for common household bugs.

I have been vacuuming and laying down non-toxic bug dust along the baseboards in an effort to diminish the numbers but so far not so good. They are still finding their way out of the darkest recesses to creepy crawl along my family room floor, the laundry room floor, the laundry tub (big sink), and yes, even upstairs in teh kitchen if the truth MUST be told (they come out from under the cabinets and baseboards). Its icky. Its creepy. I want it OVER ALREADY!!!!!!

The good news is that they are not disease bearing harbingers of doom. They are just sow bugs. Its just that they keep coming out and they have too many legs which is what I hold against almost all bugs. I don't want to resort to scary toxic methods of pest control, but jeez louise enough is enough.

I have never lived in a house with so many sow bugs. Back on the homestead my bane's were earwigs and shingle flies with the very occassional surprised silver fish, larder beetles, or centipede. MUCHO spiders in that house though which would explain low numbers of creepy crawlies.

Ugh...I have the shivers...bleahhhh

The Colour..she is Picked!!

I have chosen a Debbie Travis paint colour from Canadian Tire to purchase later this week. The name is Chinese Jade and I am really liking it. Its not too bright and has the earthy feel that is prominent throughout this house with its cream, chocolatey brown, goldeny sand, and terracotta. But the terra cotta is going. CJ is definitely GREEN but not "Oh my gods my eyes make it stop!!" green. And its several degrees lighter in colour than what is on the walls so its going to brighten the room considerably.
HM and Ben constructed the table and chairs from Ikea last night (174.99!!!!!!) and I love it. Simple rectangular table with smallish ladder back chairs. On of the ladders of one of the chairbacks got broken by HM when he fell on it so it has been Gorilla Glued and later I will remove the tape to see how the bond turned out.
I am so itching to get started priming the room. Mostly because it will take me away from having to frog back Ben's sweater..hee hee. Avoidance is my middle name!!
Speaking of sweaters, we come to YARN. Ariadne is having a St Patrick's sale. 25% of selected green, whitish, and orange yarns in honor of Irish-ness. I am drooling over Inca Gold Warani yarn in the colour Clover. Mmmmmmmmmm. Loving that color so much. Want it for ME. Mememememememememe. I am afraid of how much I would need for me.
Speaking of which..the diet she is not going so very well lately. I want yummies. I want chips and cookies. The want is strong. I have been weak. I admit it. sigh.
Oh well. Such is life.
Oh, and Sudog? NO ! Sucking hairy monkey balls does not have ANYTHING to do with my cat's nethers!!! That would be "sucking Monkey's hairy balls". Totally different.

Monday

This morning was lightly busy what with the return of Routine and all. The boys are back to school after their week off and this house is blessedly quiet.
Monkey had a vet appointment for vaccinations and was not thrilled at the whole experience. Eeek! The place where they stick me with sharp stuffs and stole my tomcattery!! he meowed.
Then we stopped at the petshop top get new food for the kitteh horde in this house. Monkey is ready for adult food and the girls are way fat at this point in the winter so they are being introduced to Nutro's Natural Choice for Indoor Cats, since the girls are fat and Monkey is an indoor cat. Let's hope it takes!
I found a solution to my sweater problem (Meg's Jogless Jog)but I still have to rip it back. I'm just glad I found a way to fix it.
Last night the guilt over buying furniture got to me and I couldn't sleep. HM says he has more guilt over spending money eating out than buying furniture for the house and in his words "How freakin' long do I have to wait to have a bedside table again? Isn't 13 years enough??" Also, he made the point that its furniture not some useless fun crap that we'd break or get tired of and dispose. Good point.
See, I can spend SMALL amounts with little to no guilt and not really think about how the smalls add up to bigs. But big amounts make me woozy. Woozy and worried. Woozy, worried, and guilty. Why? I have no idea. So while I could not see my way clear to fly home for my aunt's funeral, furniture is here longer than a weekend and goes toward the family home not my own wants. But I still feel guilty. ARGH! I guess I'm just not really used to being able to do this on occassion yet. Also, everytime we start feeling like we are movin' on up, something yanks the rug out from under us and we hit rock bottom again.

Ok..on to other stuffs like..Wallpaper off gassing VS Latex paint off gassing...Which is the less toxic and environmentally safer choice? Does anyone know? I read that natural fiber wall coverings are better than your run of the mill vinyl wall paper BUT thats not happening here. My choice is latex paint or wallpaper...If anyone has advice, post it in the comments .
I have commenced a new pair of socks for HM because he loves his sockses sooo much. These ones are done with a 6 ply sock yarn that takes a 3 to 4mm needle size and they are knitting up waaaaaaaay faster since I am not ribbing the whole leg. I guess if ya want socks from me ya deal with them being plain ol' stockingette because A) purling annoys me and B) purling slows me down and 3rd) I need everything done 10 minutes ago so slowing me down is bad. Thus, bit o' 1 and 1 rib at the top and then its stockingette the rest.
I found a video online on how to knit small diameter stuffs like socks with two circular needles rather than 4 or 5 dpns (double pointed needles) as I do now. I wonder if I can figure out the two socks on two circulars with this video? Karine offered to show me if I can get to Wednesday nighter on Monkland that she is at. I could go this week if I am not too tired. Its the getting up next morning to get the boys ready for school after being out for the evening that gets to me and makes me stay home. I really enjoy the Wednesday night gatherings though..hmmm.
Ok..thats it..I am so tired I could cry and with the guys gone ALL day I think I will forget about house work and take a snooze.

After some recovery.....

.... I can now discuss what was purchased at Ikea. We went a little wild but its not like we do it every day and it is furniture, not..say..shoes!
We went in and got an awesome bookcase thats taller than me, 2 bedside tables because we never have had any and the upside down Duraflame logs box I was using wasn't very chic (as if we care about that), a rug for the sofa/coffee table area cuz it was only $49 and I liked it, drawer organisers (cool), a new dog basket for Blossom the amazing sleeping dog, ummm...oh yeah, a smallish table and chairs for the breakfast room ( a table and FOUR chairs for $179!! C'mon how do ya say no to THat??). On payday I am getting paint come heck or high water. That room will be done come April. We also picked out new bureaus for our bedroom and will move the mismatched stuff either to the family room or kids bedrooms. Man..I has bedside tables!! I feel like such a grown up now. Heeheeheeee.
Ok..Galactica is on .. Gotta book.

I Can Live With This

I took the super villains quiz and was labelled as Mystique. Cool.

---

29%
Mr. Freeze

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29%
Two-Face

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26%
Catwoman

---

23%
Green Goblin

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22%
Riddler

---

21%

Sometimes motherly, sometimes a beautiful companion, but most of the time a deceiving vixen.



Click here to take the "Which Super Villain are you?" quiz...

Weekends.....

Why is it when you are really really looking forward to a day it manages to suck hairy monkey balls???!!
Saturday was meant to be my serious reintroduction to the world of down hill skiing. I gots mah new bootses, I gots mah new skises, I gots a lesson lined up.....I's ready! AAAAAnnnnnddd it RAINS! Still, we head out ever optimistic that the trip north will turn said rain to snow. It did....kinda... Snow and ice pellets and rain..I think this is what we call SLEET. grrrr The slopes sucked big time...very very slippery and granular on a hard base. Lessons? Cancelled. We coulda just stayed home and saved the almost 3 hour round trip to the soundtrack of bickering brats. At home I have earplugs. At home I can separate them. sigh
Oh..did I mention my wonderful new boots? They do not pinch my legs and cut of my circulation at all. Nope instead the drive daggers of agony into my arches until I am near in tears. Apparently NEW ski boots do this until you break them in. Noone told me this, but I was comforted by the fact that I was not alone in my pain because HM bought himself new boots too. HA. Misery loooooves company. So, how does one break in new ski boots before using them for skiing? Anyone? Anyone? Hints required here.
By the time I got home I was tired and headachey and in need of a nap so I disappeared for a few hours to my bed. When I re-emerged I checked my email to discover that my book order from chapters used books was being cancelled because, even though the website said they had the book Here Be Wyverns available from another vendor, turns out they DIDN'T. I am seriously upset. I really really wanted that book with a want that is stronger than strong. A want that is sick and wrong in its wanting. I WANT THAT FRAKKING BOOK.
Friday night I went to Effiloche and it was tres francaise this week. I understood almost noone or anything and my pal Andre Anne was absent. She has laryngitis. That was okay though! I am meant to learn more french and the best way is in a french atmosphere. The fly in my ointment was the noticing of a big honking mistake in my color worked stripes. ARGH.. I have to rip back between 2 and 3 inches. Add Frioday night mistake finding to saturday's comedy of horror and we come to Sunday....
The weather today was/is beyond glorious. 10 degrees Celcius above zero with a light breeze. Ice and snow melting off the roof and walkways. Sunny sunny sunny. While enjoying my morning coffee I called Barb to straighten out my knit problem. She wasn't there. Thats ok. I call Julie. Julie is having a ball of a time renovating her daughter's bedroom with great success. I look around my morning room..paint chips and smears on the walls, catnip all over the floor from Monkey and his herb dependency problem, general scruffiness..and I hit my wall. That was it..I'd had enough.
I didn't cry. I didn't rant....much. I was just so frustrated that things were not progressing as I wanted. I wanted things to go MY WAY. Much sighing and whinging and flailing of disgruntled limbs. What I really wanted to do was lay on the floor and thrash and kick but like I said, it was kinda gross from all the catnip and cat hair.
No paint yet....no longed for book on its way...this called for a trip to.....dahdahdah daaaaaaaah

IKEA!

Ikea...Swedish store of opportunity and yummy cinnamon rolls. MY happy place. Ikea. I love you. You make everything better. sigh :OD

Sweater Progress

Still loving the yarn and the colours (they are not as bright as the photo would suggest)but iffy on the youngling's choice of colour work pattern. Seems heavy to me but hey..I'm not gonna be wearing it. Now my question is Can I utilise a different colour pattern in the area I am working now without it looking tooo patchworky and goofy?I'm leading into the blue work now and would like to use a different pattern of red in the blue band. This working will take me to the arm pits where I will divide the sweater onto different needles for the front and back, joining by sewing at the shoulders then picking up and knitting for the set in style sleeves. I am thinking some blue near the cuffs and on the collar would be a good way to tie it all together. Already I am itching to make another sweater.....hee hee hee.

I Had To Order This

I just HAD to. How cool is this??! I ordered it from Chapters' used book section. Now I must wait impatiently until it arrives. I don't know if I'll survive.

Incase you wanna see Valcartier

http://www.valcartier.com/page.aspx?GP=223&SID=241&LA=EN

There are photos and some video footage of what its like. If you ever want a fun trip in Canada, make this a destination.

Tuesday and pictures

We has gots SNOW
After Valcartier with much hat head.
Monkey had some catnip this morning and after beating up the scratching post he needed his rest. He is about 6 months old now.

Holy Schmoley what a weekend. Busy-ness did ensue and us grownups are wiped.

Saturday was more digging out from Friday's deluge of 34 cms. Then the menfolks had karate class, returned and headed for the slopes. I dawdled around, chatting with my Barbara, and eventually book shopping at a used book shop in Laval. Sunday was a travelling day.

We left home and headed for the Quebec City area to visit HM's papa and step- mere. Snacks and drinks were had and then a magnificent roast beef dinner. honestly, the lady makes a kick ass roti du boeuf. I can only dream of making it as good as her and i have her recipe! HM's step bro and younger bro were in attendance as well. Bro was in the area for some reason..I think to have a couple of days snowboarding fun and step bro lives in the area. It was a lovely time, seriously. Much laughter and chatter. I hurt everyones ears and brains with my French (or my version of the language)but HM is actually impressed and amazed at my progress since we don't speak French in this house as a rule. So there, an old dog can learn newish trick to impress the older dog.

Then it was off to the hotel and the hotel pool. Upon returning to our room the kids announced they were hungry again so HM did a McDonald's run for everyone. About 3 or 4 hours later I was yarging mine back up in the bathroom. Yuck. I did not sleep well at all.

Monday= Valcartier Village De Vacances!!!! Upon rising we discovered we forgot Ben's medicine at home. This is not good. Without his Concerta Ben becomes possibly the most annoying and sometimes dangerous to himself organism on the planet. His impulse control is next to nil and his volume goes way up. He can't seem to hear us very well either because his brain is racing too far ahead and he's trying to catch up. tantrums happen over next to nothing such as telling him not to stick his head under the tow cables incase it gets caught, or in my worst case scenario version, cut off. Oy. Tempers flared repeatedly and much deep breathing was employed in an effort to calm ourselves. Despite this set back, we had a fantastic time. Of course, I forgot the camera in the car. We slid, and rafted, and even did the much feared Himalaya slope. YES! I did a Himalaya run!! And I screamed like the terrified girl I am. Its a very steep, fast slope and you had to go in groups of a minimum of 6..I think either for stability or because of yesterday's crowds. My hat blew off about halfway through that one but my knight in dented armour retrieved it for me at risk of life and limb and much snow in his boots.

What a sweetheart.

Around 3:30 us grownups were tired enough that it was time to go ( after about 5 hours there) and we hit the road, stopping for drinks and snacks. There were major episodes of blowing snow on the highway all the way home, some quite blinding but you dared not stop incase the moron speeding up your tail rammed into you as you slowed. It was a little unnerving and the backseat soundtrack of Ben (mostly) and Cameron didn't help.

We arrived home to happy pets and our pet sitters were actually there too for their after supper visit. There was a bad smell in the house that I put down to one of our kids trip to the bathroom on arrival but soon I discovered the cause.

One of the cats showed its displeasure at not having an automatic human door openner here for the warmish weather by dropping a load in the upstairs bath tub. In his outrage HM demanded "Who was it??" 'What am I a forensic poopologist now???" was my reply but we both think it was Flash. She's the only one that is rude enough for that especially since we had two very nice and clean litter boxes in the laundry room. She can be very nasty.

So that was our big overnight trip in celebration of March break. Oh, and I think I added one two inches to the sweater in the car!

Friday Night

We soooo got dumped on today. I mean by snow. Again, I forgot to take a picture but believe me, shovelling the driveway was not very fun. Yet it could have been worse...
We put the kidlets to bed around 9ish this evening and donned our gay apparel to shovel out since the snow had stopped and the plow had gone by. Our home is lovely and sits on a corner lot, and our driveway has two entrances. Twice the shovelling. We did the end at the front of out home and then walked around the corner to the other end. Why didn't we cross the yard? Because the snow is over our boots that way!! We gots snow, baby!!
On the other steeet end of the drive, the plow had been by but has not yet, at this writing, cleared the street back to the curb. We were looking at a lot of street to shovel before we hit driveway. So we plodded on with the scooping and tossing of cold white stuff. A couple of houses down a snow removal tractor was at work clearing a driveway and man was I jealous. Soo jealous. The snow removal guy must have felt my tractor lust because he zipped down to our place and cleared the end of our drive way out!! Then with a merry wave off he went to do his next driveway. All told he was done in maybe 1 minute thanks to that handy dandy gigantic snow blower. How friggin' awesome is that!!
Of course the plow will fill it all back in on its next run through, but I'd rather only do it once rather than give my self a heart attack or sprained back twice.
Monsieur Deneigement, je t'aime!!!! Merci beaucoup!!! xxxooo

Because Barb told me to post pics

In real life the blue is not that bright and the red is more brick like.





Benoit picked the pattern because it looked like trees. I didn't tell him he was looking at it upside down so I knitted it his way.







I gots a new basket for all my knitty stuffs!! I loves it sooooooo.

Thursday

We are to be getting snow, according to the radio. Lots and lots. I hate shovelling.
Went to the grocery store today because yesterday was payday and I have kids home for the next 10 days and needed to stock up on munchables, did NOT go to prepare for a storm in any way. The line ups were larger than I would have liked. Preparation for snow may entail bringing in some firewood incase the power goes out.
Sweaterwise, I have completed the colorwork and now am just knitting the red in the round until its time for more blue. So far so good. The mistake I did make isn't very noticable in the first row of blue and I am NOT frogging back to fix it. Would EZ frog all the way back because of two misplaced stitches of red???? I think not. She'd say it was a creative interpretation of the chart, I bet. At least that will be my excuse. If I had noticed it closer to the occurence I would have ripped back but since I was on the homestretch of the colorwork, fuhgeddaboutit.

Cute stuff

I enjoy various cutenesses like Cute Overload and the latest one to come my way I Can Has Cheeseburger? that I found via Sween at Space Monkey Pants. Filled with pictures of cute animals etc with sometime HILARIOUS captions. www.icanhascheeseburger.com
Fun stuff.