Wacky Wednesday.....

We are no exactlyish 1.5 days away from the end of our school year. I both dread and enjoy the summer vacations. No more alarm clock makes me VERY happy. Constant refrains about being bored and having nothing fun to do do not make me happy at all and I hear my mother's words coming from my own mouth every year. UGH. How awful.
Today Hman had to rent an SUV for his business fishing trip(he leaves tomorrow morning with his Dad in tow) so we had to go all the way to the friggin' airport. On the way back we got the first big feed of local STRAWBERRIES!!!! Nom nom nom... I also picked up some pepper plants since mine are both teensy and only 3 in number. Now I have 11 all together. Or 15. I forget how many I got (8 or 12???). Here's hoping I get some actual peppers from these babies.
I also invested in 4 English cucumber plants. My seeds did dick all so I had to break down.
Seedswise, I rebought and will replant the beets and beans. I think I had some sort of bad beans karma this year. Last year it was the peas that failed. The seeds sprouted..oh yes they did...but those that actually got leaves had them disintegrate or be eaten, leaving only the veins OR never got beyond that initial sprout OR completely lost their tops. This leads me to believe my culprits are birds, cutworms, and slugs. I'm NOT replanting the second patch of carrots. I had the sprouts going great and then they were gone. Instead I am going to try a few edamame seeds. Tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mesclun, first carrots, and spinach are all doing fine. The snow peas got their first blossoms today. Purple ones!
Here's a new mystery. Something dug a hole the size of my fist in the garlic patch. Not a cat because they don't tend to dig this deep. Hman has made my compost area unsightly with wood scraps and bricks etc because "something" was trying to dig in under the new composter. Something big and good at digging he says by the looks of the holes. Skunk? Racoon? Ground hog? Zoiks.
Tonight we are going to use our anniversary gift: tickets to see "Chicago". My black and off white dress is washed and ironed and ready for me. Isabelle comes at 5 pm to baby sit and I will be getting the boys and she KFC for supper.
I got my Briggs and Little order from the Devil known as Audrey and since fondling her swatch made of Regal I am smitten. Its a nice sweater yarn I must say. Softer than I expected. Now I want some. STAT.
On Saturday I went to Effiloche for Ginette's WWKIP day. I was so smart...I brought a jug of homemade sangria and my iPod with my wee portable stereo so we could have music. Yet, I did not remember to throw an extra ball of yarn into my bag and promptly ran out while working on my Einstein jacket. Boo Hisss. There was nothing to do but go into the shop, find something to suit the needles I had extra, and start a new project from my Xmas list. I can't say any more than its fabulous because the recipient comes here. Lets just say she will be lucky if I part with it.
This weekend for the Montreal Knits World Wide Knint In Public day, I won't be such a stunned arse.

Something

is killing my bush beans. More bulletins as events warrant.

Fidgety.

Its a fidgety kind of day. There are things that should be done and things that need to be done and then there are the things I will do. A little of each. Where to start? With the Washing machine. Laundry has suddenly multiplied in size of the pile which leads me to wonder where the hell it was all hiding before Hman found it and dragged it downstairs BECAUSE I know he didn't empty the bathroom hamper...its still full.
Tonight is knit night at Effiloche and I AM GOING. Wednesday's knit night as a fail since I was the only one signed in as a definite so I stayed home to be with myself in comfort. I think i am hitting a 3 week or even month mark of not getting out and its making me cranky.
ON the other hand...Effiloche is also having their WWKIP day tomorrow and I am planning on going for that TOO. Maybe thats too much all at once. Hman will deliver me to Effiloche and then retrieve me in time to go to someone's house for dinner where I will have to be on my good behaviour and not know what to talk about. Dinner with near strangers is always SO much fun.
Then we have Sunday...this Sunday holds a bone of contention for this family. Thing 2 is mightly desirous of participating in a Chaotic tournament (sorta like Pokemon but NOT ) in Montreal. It costs 25$. Hmn has said no...I have dithered. On the one hand, its in line with the kids interests unlike most other things we make him do. I checked and found out that its actually aimed at kids, not 20 something geeks with no life so he may actually have some fun and not lose all his cards. The registration fee entitles the players to all kinds of new cards etc so he is looking at it with an acquisitive bent as well.
On the other hand its a geeky thing thats going to cost 25$ and I will have to be the one to get out of bed early on a Sunday morning to haul his butt into the city and wait around for him to be finished.
Do it and be the best mommy ever for the day....don't do it and be the worst mommy ever and have it thrown in my face everytime we say no to something (we say no A LOT).
I am thinking that he needs to have this one time opportunity to try a walk on the geekside.
Much fidgetyness....much much much...I need more coffee.

PS: Terminator Salvation was kinda cool but too much jiggly camera stuff. Why does everyone do that now? Ugh...my eyes!

Why Audrey Is The Devil and other notes.....

An example of a Modular Tomten jacket with hood.
My friend and enabler Audrey is wonderful. She is smart, funny, an amazing knitter, and she loans me stuff. She also is THE DEVIL.
I have been trying not to buy yarn and have done a fabulous job of not buying yarn. All things on the needles are from stash or are UFO's that need finishing up at some point. Today, I broke down.
Audrey sweetly called to let me know that she was placing a yarn order and did I want to add to it...GULP. First I said no...then I said maybe...then I was running for my colour cards for this brand and asking for 3 of Rosewood and one of Greystone and another one of Mixed Green for a sweater I was envisioning for my sister's friend's baby girl....then I said WAIT! Let me think on this.
Then...and here is the beauty part...(she's soooo GOOD!)...she gently commented that her choice of colours for the project I had in mind were Rosewood, Oatmeal, and Ecru.
It was magic..I put the strands of colour together and the saliva started to flow. Its a delicious classy feminine combination that works for a female of any age. So I ordered 5 skeins of Tuffy (3 Rosewood, 1 Oatmeal, 1 Ecru) so that I can make a striped tomten sweater at some point soon, to fit baby Viola. I already have the most perfect buttons in my button stash.
So much for the yarn diet BUT its not expensive.
I am now listening to book 1 of The Dresden Files series. Its VERY well read. I got a couple inches done on the banner block I am working on.
I have turned my thoughts to Christmas knitting and already the anxiety is making me hyper ventilate. I may need to keep that on the "maybe si, maybe no" level. If gifts manage to get themselves made, great. I have things I want to make for ME for a change and even though its only June, I am a slow poke and procrastinator. I DO want to make my Da socks. Thats a definite and I have the perfect yarn in my stash. Thats the only definite I have.
This Thursday is the wedding anniversary of myself and my man. 15 years of wedded...whatever. HAHAHAHA. I laugh because its sad.... Oh stop! You know I kid. Tonight we went out for a walk after supper (thats another story on how my kids are big snitches) and admired the neighborhood and caught up on each other's business. Turns out on the night we are to go see Chicago at Place des Arts(our anniversary present)his Dad is going to be sleeping over because they are heading out the next morning for their fishing trip. That means he will be away and I will have the choices of hiring a sitter for WWKIP day or taking the boys with me.
This Thursday, the day of our big event we are gonna play hooky for the adfternoon and go see Terminator Salvation. Because nothing says love like murderous robots of the future!!!
Now, for my snitchy offspring: I do not have the best barbecue reputation in this house. Sometimes I hit and sometimes I realy really miss (like last years charcoal chicken). Tonight i decided once again to barbecue chicken, and set some to marinating. I watched that BBQ like a hawk. A slightly distracted hawk. I had the burners down to the lowest settings. I watched the smoke level coming out from under the lid. The next thing I knew there was flames coming out from the back of the lids and when i ran to the bbq the temperature said 800 degrees inside. WTF???! Fearing an explosion but wanting to rescue dinner, I opened the lid, flipped off the burners, and grabbed the tongs to pull the flaming parts out of the fire caused by the stupid chicken fat on the burner below the grill. Luckily it was only the skin that was burned (unlike last years charcoal chicken) and the potatoes in foil were not harmed at all...maybe even improved!
The kids and I ate supper (skinless chicken etc)and when Hman got home the first words out of Ben's mouth were "Mommy burned supper again and the barbeque was 800 degrees and the chicken caught fire but its still good!!!" Then he turns to me and asks "Is it ok that I told Dady about the chicken and the barbecue? I just really wanted to tell him because it was exciting." (at theis point I am rolling my eyes at him and reassuring Hman that the bbq is fine...jeez everyone gets so worked up).
I really must discuss with the children the concept of Need To Know. As in "Daddy doesn't need to know........"

A sunburn.......

I has it. And even though sun exposure generally equals cancer to people, I am glad of the sun burn. Its not painful and the getting of it was just so frikkin' relaxitating that I cannot regret it at all. Sitting in the back yard with book, knitting, cold beverages, and tunes. It was almost perfection. Perfection would have been a lounger with arm rests and a waiter/beverage fetcher.
Awesomeness.
So, what to do today?

What is that bright glowing orb in the sky???!

Nope, not an alien ship come to take me away. It is the SUN!! Gasp! Shock! Awe!!!
Not only this but It is scheduled to hang around a few days and dry things up a wee bit. Sweet.
Its been a particularly chill and damp May. Just like last year things heated up marvelously in April! Woohoo garden garden garden. Then...the mercury dips and the clouds hang around and sweaters are NOT packed away for the season. I've even had to resort to putting on socks and turning up the basement thermostats, cuz baby its cold down here. When the temperature is warmer outside than in, I open the windows instead.
My dear friend Audrey popped in for a quickie visit yesterday because I wanted to show off the changes in my garden. She hasn't been over for a couple of weeks or so and there were many things a'bloomin'. She scolded me to take pictures but the camera is dead and I know not where the charger is! Those irises next to the baptisia need a photo, even though I know I cannot do them justice.
Here is a wee garden mystery: Something stole my dill seedlings. they did not die because then there would be wee dilly corpses but they are vanished completely without a trace. Very weird. There were 5 out there in the herb bed that I had carefully uprooted and replanted when I redid the bed. Now there are none. :o( Since I am toying with the idea of basil with my tomatoes, I can buy some new plants at the Pepiniere Quebec or Pepinere Mascouche, where I prefer to do my garden shoppings (rather than Canadian Tire, Home Depot etc...support local indies!!!).
I have created a very cavemanesque greenhouse enclosure for the peppers. the poor things...I started the seeds too late and actually had not planned for peppers. My Barb in NS had been to Poland this winter visiting her family there and came home with a pile of pepper seeds from her Aunt Henia's own peppers. When she sent some to ME (thank you to infinity, Basia!!) I dutifully started some but its was kinda late. As a result, my plants are quite wee BUT are hardened off and in the garden now. I thought that since they are lovers of heat, and we don't yet have any, I would stick bamboo hoop supports into the ground aront them and then drape the whole section in plastic vapor barrier. Its all held together with staples! LOL I really should invest in a proper staple gun but my desk stapler in the guise of a frog did an adequate job. Now when the sun shines I have to pull open large gaps in my "greenhouse" to ventilate the poor dears but they seem VERY happy already. I think this may make up for lost time.
KNITTING: Momma got her sweater in the mail last Friday and is VERY happy with it. she has done what all knitters do...turned it inside out to examine it closely from all angles and declares it perfect. She had never heard of steeking (cutting a knit garment for armholes or cardigan conversion) and considers it one of those newfangled things us kids today know about (its quite and ancient technique but in her knitting era practically every pattern was knit in pieces and sewn together, where as I prefer knitting in the round to avoid purling and sewing). I am so happy that it pleases her and it fits!! Glory be it fits!!!! Not too big and not too small. She finds the wool surprisingly soft (its very cuddly I must say) and cannot wait to show it off to my Aunt Viola.
I have ceased work on Einstein in order to produce an 8 inch by 8 inch square for the Montreal Knits banner to be unveiled on WWKIP day (world wide knit in public day). I have about an inch done but now I am wondering if it was supposed to be done in stockingnette stitch for ease of embroidering our name on it? Need to call our coordinatrice Janet to find out. I am using a green acrylic I had in my stash. its a lovely colour actually and nicely soft but very fine so I am knitting it with two strands.
The urge to knit baby things is still upon me. Also I have started planning xmas knitting. Dad is maybe getting socks (SHHHH don't tell)since the hat and mittens were such a hit and I have the perfect Dad Socks yarn in stash (an Opal 6 ply in shades of grey, blue and cream). I was thinking on another set of hand warmers for chilly Mom, but fancier than last time. Maybe a pair of "Fetching" ? Or maybe something else. I dunno. I have some superwash set aside for such a project.
For my dear neice's whom I LOVE to knit for because I can make girly stuffs, I am thinking on arm warmers/sleeves. Not sure yet. Or slippers... but sleeves/armwarmers are trendier. Or leg warmers? They range from ages 6 to 11 years old. Last year they each got Instant Mittens because they are fast and mittens are always welcome in winter.
Any suggestings knitterverse?

Serendipity

While wandering in the garden, I was taken by surprise to see that my white irises with a pinch of violet are perfectly complimented by the baptisia blooming next to.
This is not the first time I have been blessed with horticultural serendipity. My tulips are perfect together AND with the rhododendron (unplanned). The chartreuse foliage of the sweet woodruff makes my heart sing when the pink rhodo is blooming...they just compliment one another so.
These happy accidents just tickle me so much. I wish I was able to capture the images for you with the trueness of their colours.
I can't stop going outside to admire those big white irises and the just coming into bloom baptisia. sigh.

A venting cranky rant.on RECIPROCITY

This is not about what someone has or has not done to myself. This is about what I observe about another's sitch. I am NOT a shrinking violet when it comes to demanding my props where I feel they are warranted. Annoying and true. Its just how I am and maybe its in direct relation to those around me who are opposite and don't get the appreciation they deserve. Maybe thats made me what I am, a wom,an with a certain sense of justification. I do for you? I want thanks. I do BIG for you I want BIG thanks. Some gushing is nice as well. Adoration is always welcome as long as it doesn't get stalkery or creepy. I digress...

I know this woman. She is the most amazing person in the whole wide world (no its not you...or you either...go sit down). She deserves mountains of kudos and reciprocation for all she does and has done for the people in her world. What does she get instead? Not a whole lot.
This is a person who is ALWAYS there for the ones that need her, whether for a favor or a shoulder or even occassionally in her life, a hand out. She is the one that gets run to, for wound lickings and head pats and praises. She gets thanked I'm sure.

She deserves more, god dammit.

She only ever says no when she truly cannot commit to something OR when you have used her once too often and now she has your number. Yeah baby, she is NOT a doormat but still there are those that love her, continue to hold her devotion to them, and yet the reciprocation is not what I think it should be. Words just don't cut it.
In my opinion, when she has put up with your shit for your entire life, listened to your sob stories, been both your champion and your conscience, continues to give you attention and love and support, do you favors etc... when she needs a favor in return well within your capabilities, YOU FUCKING DO IT!!!! None of this "time and money and work etc" fuckwaddery. I mean it. You haul your ass over to her house and you do what fucking needs to be done and not only THAT. You refuse to let her pay you. THATS reciprocation. Thats devotion and love. Thats called being a fucking grown up and knowing whats RIGHT. Have you ever PAID her for what she does for you out of her own time, skills, etc? I thought not.
I have been brooding on this for a while now. Can you tell? Now that I am all PMSy and emotional and junk, I am toying with the idea of a phone call. A confrontation of sorts. That would be a very bad idea because I know I would come out as an asshole. This is not MY issue. This is not MY situation. Where do I get off?
So, I rant about it here with my eyes tearing up in rage (because thats what happens when us girls get so mad they want to smash things) at what I feel is one more injustice thrown in her face. She very very rarely complains about her lot in life. Most people probably thinks she just rolls with what the Universe has thrown her way and has an amazingly sunny outlook on the world. Its true. She does. She works very hard at not letting things get her down. She has spent her life as a hard working person that doesn't get the appreciation she deserves from the people she serves hardest. She makes the best of any situation and may be percieved by some as having more than she does, so why not ask her for time, love, support, favors?
So what the fuck are you thinking when she asks you for a hand with something beyond her own not unsubstantial capabilities? She's run into a problem she can't fix on her own, and after all she has done for YOU, when she asks you for help (and doesn't expect it to come for free) you turn her DOWN. What ...the... fuck??

After all she has done and continues to do, you give excuses. You turn her down. Leave her hanging in the wind. She's always had your fucking back and you turn her down. I am appalled. Surprised. Dismayed.
And now I need a kleenex, you fucking asshole, because you have made me SO MAD.

Blogger messin' Wit Me Head

But thats not hard to do these days. bad case of foggy brain today.
ALSO: cause of life-stipation seems to be PMS. I checked the calendar. I should be un-stipated in a week or two. Until then be prepared for posts from the high of highs and low of lows.
Also I still don't know what I want to BE when I grow up and I am 41. How sad is that? This + PMS= midlife angst.
The weather is still darkish and rainy-ish until Saturday the forecast says. Our pool seems to have a leak because the water level keeps dropping by a few inches from where it should be. No idea where the leak is or how to fix but can't do anything about it for at least a week because Hman is going on a business trip, starting Saturday.
There are 14.5 school days left in the current term. Then its all "I'm bored! I want a snack etc.." all the time. There is not enough Paxil in the world for this. Remember when we were kids and we would leave in the AM to play with friends outside and only return for meals an drinks? Mine won't leave the house most days. There is a park near by and they are old enough now to cross the big bad busy street (oh my nerves) and play with friends that are not right next door. I think the whole "no you may not leave the yard without permission or an adult" has never really worn off. WTF? When we were kids were were craving freedom from being under adult eyes...now its the opposite. This sucks. I became a grown up FOR THIS??
Earplugs. The answer may be earplugs. If I can't hear their screechy little voices like nails on a chalkboard, everything may just be tickety boo.

I don't know how

I am thinking and feeling things and I don't know how to put them into action. Its like I am life-stipated.
All is well don't get me wrong. The economy is likely soon starting to kick our ass. Economising has not helped as much as we would like. Yet, all is well in our home. So its not some deep doom and gloom posting here. I'm just feeling rutty. A form of my own revenue generation would make me happy.

Picture-rama

These are photos that have been languishing in the camera for a month(some of them anyways). Two pictures are from Aunty Jessie's visit, the day we hit the Bio-Dome in Montreal. On the Metro and in a Metro station. The other pictures aren't so good (I need a camera that you just point it and shoot). The picture of myself and the 'man are from Monday's sojourn to the Botanical Gardens, and the sweater photo is a process shot...what it looked like as I was finishing the yoke, still armpitless and un-steeked. The colours show up really well though so here it is.
My ass hurts. Not exactly ass...left hip and lower back and radiating down through the leg. that pretty much ass though, right? Valerie of the magical chiropractor skillz worked on it yesterday (yes...I did whimper more than a grown woman should) and I think I need to ice it today because I stil hurt (to touch the knotted area she worked on is very uncomfortable so noone touch me there ok?). I also may need massage for this one. My dentist's office has massge for patients...can you dig that? FREE for patients! If you have a Dent- Spa in your neck of the woods, you must try them. Its like one stop shopping...dentist and orthodontia (did I mention Ben requires braces now? Oy.) I think there is tanning and also, the massage. Which my back really really wants. And my leg. I don't think I will ask to have my ass cheek massaged because they may think I'm pervy not pained. I am so calling today. Should book an appointment to get those last fillings replaced too. Been working up the courage for that for 2 years now. Last one (right side) was so owwie it too 8 weeks for it to stop hurting. I really should get on that. SIGH.....
Today is effin' GORGEOUS!!! The air smells all springtimey fresh and nice and the forecast is for sun and some heat (28 degrees!). You know what that means riiighht? Thats right! Laundry!!! Also, tomato planting. Thats right. I am getting down with my bad self and plantin' me some 'maters ( "Quebec 5" Tomatoes that are soing splendidly). They are fully hardenmed off now after a few days and nights outside.
I will also order soil and mulch today too. Hman keeps telling me to do it and I keep putting it off due to the expense but if these vegetable beds are going to get planted and produce some food for us, I need lots of dirt first. Hope they can deliver ASAP.
Let's see....what else....
That about covers all our news exceptforthedogranawayandisgoneforever.

DONE

Click to enlarge.

My Mom's sweater is officially finished as of tonight. Its in the washer on the hand wash cycle as we speak. I...am...FREE!!!!

I will mail it out as soon as its blocked and dry. She's gonna love it.

Holiday

Today, in Canada, its a holiday. Here in Quebec its "Patriot's Day" but everywhere else its Victoria Day.
So, since Hman didn't have to go to work and the kids were home from school, we went to the Botanical Gardens and the Insectarium. It was a perfect day. Not hot, sunny, breezy. Perfect. My feet are very tired.
On the way home I was struck with a craving for rice noodles in soup. Of course there are no noodle shops out here so we stopped at the grocery store so I could get what I need to concoct my own version of what I was craving.
In a pot I heated oil to sautee chopped garlic and a grated knob of ginger...mmmmmm ginger.
Then I threw in these soup vegetable that were pre chopped in the store. The container had broccoli, cauliflower, celery, onion, carrot...terrific assortment in tiny piecces. I threw half the container into the pot with the sauteeing garlic and ginger. A few splashes of soy sauce. Stirring and sauteeing...
Then came the chicken broth (Campbell's low sodium, 1/2 container) and some pepper, and a sliced up leftover barbequed pork chop. More stirring and bring it to a boil. Splash of lemon juice because I have no lemongrass.
Once it comes to a boil add the rice vermicelli noodles (I used 1/3 of my package) and put a lid on it reducing the heat to medium or less. I let it simmer 5 minutes or a bit less. Give it all a stir. The vegetables should still have some crunch.
Have a BIG bowl on hand and pour the "soup" into it and then garnish/season with chopped chives, garlic chives, and lemon balm.
Its not a truly Asian dish, as you can see but it was sufficiently gingery and tangy for me and was easy. Hit the spot in a most satisfying way. I hadn't eaten most of the day and was super hungry so this made one huge portion for a big appetite. To serve more than one big eater, double the recipe. It'd be really good with some mushrooms added, or some chopped greens like chard or bok choy, and for a veg version, use vegetable broth and firm tofu instead of meat and chicken broth.

After supper I went out onto the swing seat and finished the left button band of Mom's sweater. I need to pick up the stitches for the right hand side band next, and decide exactly how many button holes it needs. I was thinking 5.

Saturday morning

I woke filled with rage. In my dreaming Hman was carrying on with someone in cyberspace on that "Second Life" website and the avatar he was carrying on with was super hot. There was some major scrapping both in cyber space and out here in the real world, let me tell you. I was a whip cracking wife of rage. Woke up with the anger and a "wait a minute..." thought. LOL Crazy.
Last night at knit night (Effiloche on Friday nights) I sewed down one side of my steek. I made two pwoplw try the sweater on in the hopes that their mediumness was similar to my mom's size. Now I am worrrying that the sweater may be too small. Eek. So help me if it is I may cry. I am so close to completion. Bought the buttons for it and need to calculate how many to put.
Janet gave me a lovely gift and in it was my new favourite lipstick! L'Oreal Juicy Colour (?). Its very sheer to the point of lip gloss rather than lipstick, and it smells like fruit! Colour : Island Punch. Love it.
My new favourite show "Castle" was renewed for a second season. YAY!

Its Friday!!!

And its also payday so I will be buying me some dirt for the gardens today. And ordering a yard of mulch like last year. And possibly a yard or two of compost. We shall see.
I have to rave again about my Mother's Day gifts of frying pans. Earth Chef ceramic coated non stick pans. I am so in love but they only get used for special things like Cameron's morning eggs (they slide outta the pan I tells ya!!) and when I made pancakes. Oh man. It was heaven for someone who is trying to be a good momma but is nowhere near being a morning person and her kids are clamoring for pancakes before school. UGH! Imagine all that AND having the bastardy things stick to the pan and make a frakking mess and burn etc. No more now that I have my ginormous Earth Chef pan that I have declared off limits to all other hands but mine own. ben put his request in today for pancakes tomorrow and that I make a huge batch so that there are some in the freezer for school days. I may do so.
Did anyone chck out Bones and Grey's Anatomy season finales this week? They sucked IMHO. I knew Izzy and George were leaving but didn't see how they could do it so I was surprised that John Doe was George even though he somehow knew Meredith (maybe her dad?? maybe an intern?). The last scene where Izzy is in her prom gown in the elevator and George meets her in his Army uniform was kinda sweet but open ended...are they both killed off or not? Did the shows producers relent and keep Katherine Heigl even though she's been a bitch about the show? Hard to say. Strangely thougfh I routinely cry at something on Grey's Anatomy I had no tears or sadness with this episode. It left me flat.
The Bones finale turned out to be a dream that post op Booth had and now that Brennan may acknowledge her feelings for Booth he doesn't recognise her thanks to his brain surgery. (rolling eyes here...how many brain tumours are there in prime time TV this season now??). All that boring dream scenario and then "Who are you?" at the end. Grr. Let down.
I swear if ABC doesn't keep Castle on the roster I may have to give up TV, not that that is a bad thing but really...
My computer is acting all pain in the assy since last week. we had a virus scare and have been running extra security stuffs but all that does is slow down and confuse my poor machine. I am losing patience. when I am bored I surf and my boredom has grown expedentially in relation to my lesser surf capabilities thanks to slow confused freezy computer. Grr...
Garden talk: I repotted my mint but am thinking I need to unpot it and divide it instead because at its current state it will be potbound again by the end of the season. Or maybe I will just get a new mint plant because I don't remember if this is spearmint or peppermint. I really need to start labelling things. I used what bags of soil I had to top up the herb bed but it only did about 1/3 of said bed. I dug out my struggling chives and replanted them as well as the sprouting calendula seedlings from last years dropped seeds. I keep meaning to gather the blossoms to make calendula ointment but then get distracted or lazy or I plain old forget. Since when I grow culinary herbs I fail to harvest them or preserve them, maybe the bed should become medicinal herbs instead. Or not...maybe I should just plant the whole thing in garlic.
The peas are getting taller! Last year I had maybe 3 pea plants. Out of two boxes of seeds. It was bizarre and terrible. This year looks awesome for snow peas.
Tomatoes are going gangbusters in their pots and should either be repotted deeper or soon planted outside. They are getting nice and big. The peppers are small. I have 6 plants and they are piddly. Really needed to start them sooner.
I am considering forgetting about my pole beans this year. They were for dry use and the beans are very large lima style ones and I don't think we will like them. Just bush beans this year I guess but that means I have room for more tomatoes for freezing and preserving. Thats a good thing...I hope.
So as it stands I am still on the "hurry up and wait" cusp of gardening wherein I am waiting for the season to be far enough along to proceed with more planting and haven't finished the beds. it will all come together in a big rush and flurry as usual.
Don't you love Spring?

It makes perfect sense.....

Franklin Habit's observation's on the Star Trek movie show a whole 'nother dimension and dynamic to the whole good vs evil, Federation vs Romulans plot at the heart of the film and Star Trek in general. Loved it.

Knitted out

I was saying to my niece today how I have lost my knit mojo...that my mom's sweater may have killed my knit lust. All that old lady pink and all. I've lost my desire to fondle yarn and make pretty knit stuffs. Then I thought maybe I was just tired of knitting for others and big stuff...tired of socks and mittens and sweaters. maybe I should knit some baby cutenesses...but what to do with them since I have no babies and there are few I know of. Plus my stash is not composed of baby acrylics in pastels. i have some pretty serious yarns to play with that a Muggle might machine wash and dry and destroy what could have been an heirloom knit! gasp! Perish the thought.
Then I considered how I would like to have something knit to wear to Rhinebeck in October. Like my not started Einstein coat (Sally Melville design)that I have the yarn for and have had for 6 months. My unfinished shrug from Sweet Paprika that I wish someone would finish for me would be welcome as well. I actually did cast on Einstein this afternoon, knit one row and then wondered if it will be too long for my short round personage and stopped all work.
Maybe its the time of year. I didn't knit much last spring because of the gardens. I think I have a case of garden fever again. There is much to do yet I can't do it yet until I have more dirt which I need to order...and mulch..again. Lots of hurry up and wait and then it will get crazy for awhile with the planting etc and then all will calm again until I am over run with cucumbers and lettuce again and swear I will never do THAT again. Which we all know I will.
Don't ya just hate getting stuck in a rut?

Mother's Day

Its been a rather nice Mother's Day this year. I was allowed to sleep in but cleaned up cat puke immediately upon rising. After some coffee I was informed that I had to get dreesed so that we could go out. While Cameron was at his art class we hit an unfamiliar Pepiniere in La Plaine. There we perused the offering and selected two more blue berry bushes to go with the two we have now. Next year may see us have blueberries!! They had some lovely fruit trees which made Hman wish for more room for fruit trees in our tard...or is there room? So we are looking at the back yard now with an eye to whether we could squeeze in two or 3 more fruit trees, like a couple of plum trees? Hard to say at the moment.
After returning home I was given two more gifts. Earth Chef nonstick frying pans, one very large and one very small. Yay!!! I had asked for exactly that! They are ceramic non-stick, which is healthier than teflon and its residues.
I am told that I will be given a lovely supper and the surprise has been let out (as usual) by Cameron. Apparently there is lobster involved but I will act surprised for Hman and Ben.
Its a chilly day though. The temperature has dropped to around 10 degrees and its cloudy with a threat of rain. Mansfield Park is on the tube to give me a dose of Austen.

Yup...all in all a pretty great Mother's day.

Sadness.... I has it

My sister should be just about ready to board her plane back to NS right this second. I was able to hold it together until the car turned the corner then I got misty. She'd been here a weeek and while thats a nice length of visit, its hard to let her go.
Of course instead of showing her a really kick ass time on her last day I ended up having MY ass kicked but a cold/flu virus that a certain second born son has passed on to me. He was home sick from school yesterday since his mucus level had reached critical mass and he was nauseous, and I ended up spending the morning and part of the afternoon in bed waiting for the cold meds and Cold F/X to kick in. They eventually did but I was still woozy and breaking into cold sweats for all my 'lets go and have some fun!!" attitude. What DID transpire was she and I curling up on the sofa reading and then she went to get Ben afterschool and they went shopping, returning home for supper. Ben was thrilled at the one on one time with his godmother beloved aunty and I passed out on the sofa while part of supper was baking in the oven, not needing supervision.

After supper we went to find some little gifts for her to take home ( Canadiens themed stuffs) and then got home in time to curl up on the sofa to watch Bones (OOOH! Baby talk and Boothe has a TUMOUR!!!) and Greys AnatomY (Lame but I cried anyway)and then it was more meds and back to bed for me.

So here we are on a Friday with the kids home on an inservice day, its kinda threatening rain, and I am still not very spry. I think I will stay home from knit night tonight.
Oh...Mom's sweater had to be ripped back a little bit and the neck redone. A few more rows and its bind off time and then its the steeking. I am so close to being finished I can taste it. If I actually sat down and did it I could finish it this weekend!! But chances are I won't.

Monday's Doin's

Yesterday we took Aunty Don't (Jessie) to the Montreal Biodome. It was fun but tiring. Oh my hips and feet! Its really such a cool place though. You can learn so much about the world in this ONE building. Its really really fascinating. i got a couple of great pictures of our city adventure.
Today we are looking at staying home and puttering. I need to deal with litter boxes and laundry and we plan to go get our Blueberry bushes today too. Maybe get them planted before night fall as well? We shall see.
The wind we have had the last few days has finally died down and today is really nice and warm but not HOT. Maybe it will be later but the forecast is only for 19 degrees.
So there we have today's doings...maybe I will get a chance to start the neck of Mom's sweater too. I think I have decided what I will do...2 and 2 ribbing for the neck like the cuffs and Garter stitch for the button bands.

Jessie brought her Colinette socks back to me (at my orders) because the heels wore out. I have ripped back one sock to the leg and am going to reknit the feet...the toes will be done in another Colinette colourway. there is a lot of yarn in a pair of socks and Colinette is not the cheapest sock yarn out there. This time I will try to reinforce the heels better. :o) I hope to finish THESE before we go back to NS is July for vacation.

Still home

We could have gone BUT to change our return date would cost a "pushed a button fee" of a thousand dollars. Thanks American Airlines. For nuthin'...!

He played 36 holes of golf today in an attempt to regain some Zen. It was seriously disturbed when one of the clients that still went to Puerto Rico called and said it was "even better than Hawaii. So wonderful...like a dream its so awesome..blah blah blah..." Here, let me hold that knife for you and hand you the salt to shake into my wounds..no REALLY! Let me.

Of course he is playing golf again tomorrow. Just needs to hit things I guess.

On the plus side my wonderful sister arrived yestyerday and we have been chatting almost non stop. Its so nice to have her here. she is slipping under the spell of The Newnienoo and Blossom has latched on to her like a misdirected duckling after the wrong mama. Its awesome.

Hard thinkings and head scratchings Chez Nous

The flights are non refundable to the company. The villa rental is non-refundable unless we cancelled 60 days before the reservation date and thats money out of Hman's expense account. His extra special clients still need some ego rubbing and company love but the money to treat them to fun etc is now gone from the expense account thanks to H1N1 fear.
So, after brooding and scratching heads all day yesterday and last night and this morning, we thought "Well, maybe just go and take advantage of the villa (its paid for) and the air fare (its paid for) and just there will be no conference to deal with"...
So as it stand right now its possible that we can still go on a business trip but not for the time originally planned and no staying at a fancy resort for a few days in the middle (like I care) to play nice with the company.
If Hman can get the villa's reservation of 3 days before and 3 days after the conference put together into 6 consecutive days, then we can be there for 6 days...if not then only 3 days. This is contingent on the clients plans (some are still going since the air fare is non refundable), company policy, and can we change our return flights to accomadate the change in plans.
I have cleared it with my sister who was now coming for a visit rather than to be responsible for the monsters...she is all but shoving me out the door and onto a plane at her end.
I will know this afternoon.

Best part? WAY less packing! MWAHAHA..couple of outfits that I can launder and my new pretty bathingsuit. No company functions to attend and pretend to be nice at, just being on a trip with Hman's top clients (and they are becoming his friends in many ways as well because they see him almost as much as I do...hahahaha). No "corporate wife" show to put on. This could work.

The waiting is the hardest part....

Stayin' Home Has Its Charms

The conference, and thus our trip to Puerto Rico, is cancelled. We are staying home but my sister will still come for a visit so that the airline tickets we paid for aren't a total loss. Now at least she doesn't have to be all responsible for the kids etc, but can just be our guest and relax and fall under the spell of Newman the Newnienoo. We bought a 6 pack of Rosee D'Hibiscus beer for a treat so it will be well appreciated this weekend.

This morning, before we knew we were grounded, we went shopping and got me a new bathing suit and a couple of cute summery dresses. I also got new polish for my toes (bright coral) and a new lip colour (also coral but not so bright) and new under eye concealer so I don't scare everyone in Puerto Rico with my under eye dark circles. Oh well. Now I can be pretty for a knit night. I told Hman I'd take the dresses and bathing suit back but he figures I deserve some pretties. Aaaaaawwwww. He's a keeper!

You can have your laugh, H1N1 virus. Enjoy it while you can, you nasty bug....the more of your legion that fall to the mighty Lysol the better.

Did I say 3 more sleeps?

The swine flu may be the cancellation of the trip. This is a business conference trip not simply pleasure and the company is monitoring the WHO's alert levels. Its gone from 4 to 5 today. An alert of 6 means pandemic.

The virus is spreading but outside of Mexico it is less severe in symptoms(the death in Texas was a child from Mexico). Puerto Rico at this point has no reported cases, but Canada has 19. If the alert goes up to 6 the company is cancelling the conference.
BUT we are going early. The alert could go up in the next 2 days and keep us home....or it could go up the day before the conference starts which means we have to come home, but the damage is done, man. We're already there!

Tricky, non? Its a bit of hurry up and wait.

Now, I know that this flu crisis is serious. I am after the kids to wash hands like crazy but thats about all one can really do unless you buy quality medical masks and gloves (the cheap ones from hardware stores etc etc are all but useless against viruses according to a local expert, because they don't custome fit to keep the germs out) and Lysol your neighborhood repeatedly. The media says "oh its not so bad. Its ok. DON'T PANIC." then in the next breath they are reporting how bad it is, how sad it is, how serious and deadly and oh my we're all gonna die it is. WTF??! Who to listen to?

People get the flu all the time. People die from the flu too, and always have. Historically we are overdue for a global pandemic and everytime there is a bad outbreak of anything (Ebola? bird flu? SARS?) the media and the experts think "This is it!! Here we go!! Get ready for the death counts to reach the bajillions!!".

Its enough to make a girl crazy (er).

Here is something happy and cheerful to finish the day with. I wish we could all take after this child: Briar Rose Perrier
She is a wonderful example of generosity to us all, and a true shining light in troubled times.

3 more sleeps....

....and I leave for Puerto Rico.
I am stressed and not ready at all. So what will I do tonight...go knitting of course.

The amazing V has FINALLY made her big announcement. Its knitterly news so go check it out. I have felt up her new product and I wholly endorse it. Think Reynolds Whiskey but better in hand feel. Or Rowan pure wool, but better. 36 luscious, excellent colours.
St.Denis . Coming someday soon to a LYS near you. And supported with beautiful designs from V and other talents.

Tonight I made a meatless supper. I am trying to do at least one meatless dinner a week. Need more easy peasy yummy recipes.

Spicy Beans and Rice a la Me

Of course I don't measure much so do your best.

You need 3 ribs of celery chopped, one onion chopped, one big pepper (red or green) chopped not too small, 2 cloves garlic minced, one hot pepper of choice (I just used jalapenos from a jar because I forgot to buy one) 3 tomatoes chopped.
Heat a pot and add oil then throw in the dryer veggies..save the tomatoes for a bit. Sautee veggies until they start to get kinda translucent and tender.
Add 2 cups broth (vegetable would be best). Simmer veggies in the broth a bit. Add 2 tsp oregano, and a table spoon of curry (powder or paste), some salt and pepper. Stir and simmer, add two cans beans of choice (I used a mixed can and a can of red kidney beans) drained and rinsed, and those pesky chopped tomatoes.
Simmer a couple minutes and since everything is starteing to get all cooked like, throw in a cup of converted/parboiled rice (white or brown). Simmer on low with the lid on, stirring occassionally, until the rice is cooked. Turn off the heat and let stand until the liquid is absorbed.
Serve in bowls with grated cheese on top or use as a burrito filling with appropriate condiments like lettuce and cheese or sour cream.... Its way yummy.

Urges

I have the urge to hear nothing but '80's pop music today. Not only '80's pop but BAD eighties pop.

Very strange. And somewhat frightening

Tuesday

Well, I didn't get to sew yesterday because Ben ended up sick for the morning and my energy level hit zero by 6 PM. So no sexy new top for me to take away on the trip to Puerto Rico. I will survive, I guess.

I had a discussion with a friend that made me sad and a little...not angry...thats not the word I am looking for...something unhappy but not just sad. I am without a term for the moment. She has a situation beyond her control with a family member, and it makes me sad and (insert term here). Sigh.... make me look at my own relationships as well.

Why is it so hard for some people to make an effort? If you are someone that a person claims to love...that the person claims as a good friend, why is it so hard for that person to make the effort to drop a line, dial a phone, be the approacher? I too get tired of being the caller, the sender of emails, the keeper of in touchness.
These "people" are always too busy, so frazzled, so tired, so overwhelmed, too bogged down in what they have in their sphere apparently. Too much social life, too much work, not enough hours.... I dunno. It take maybe 5 minutes to write and say "Hey. I know I'm not much for the keeping in touch regularly buit I just wanted to take a second and let you know I have you in mind more often than you know."

See that? 30 seconds. Not even. True it doesn't solve the issue of who is the giver and who isn't....but it could balm the hurt.

I usually just shake this stuff off because I know that these people have way more going on in their lives than I do. Families, jobs, social lives, problems, etc...
Then again, EVERYONE has that shit going on unless they are a hermit in a cave.

I know me and my friend aren't the only ones with this issue. An acquaintance recently told of the same kind of issue with another.
Friendship is about give and take. About enjoying one another's company even from afar. Respecting each other's feelings. Why is this so hard?

I guess its time for the non-recipricators to take note. We are tired of being let down, ignored, forgotten until needed, dismissed as willing to wait around. We may find we have the strength however, to let go.

Today's Business

It was another bright day earlier on. though nowhere near the glorious temperatures of yesterday. Hman finished anchoring my compost tumbler with another batch of cement, so it should never tip ever again! YAY!. Its already practically full as well so as soon at that cement is hard I have to start tumbling it.
I dug up my wisteria today. Its been growing wonderfully in its spot, but alas, its just not the spot for me to have it. I moved it to the back yard where it can take over the chain link fence and maybe someday bloom! That would be lovely. I had a lot of untangling and clipping of the vine to get it arranged to take over the area.
Then since the wisteria spot was now empty, I dug up my Don Juan climbing rose and popped it in the empty space.

Hman bulit me a potato box today as well! Together we tackled the raspberry canes and tied them back so they stop trying to snare poor unsuspecting creatures (like me) trying to get around.
Ben got in on the action and dug dandelions, emptied bags of black earth, and watered things. An all around excellent helper in the yard and garden activities when the mood strikes.
Now the 3 menfolk are gone to the Cirque Du Soleil "OVO" show in the Old Port. I have peice and quiet and spinach dip...aaaaaahhhhh.

Saturday, not in a park, but feeling like the 4th of July

Today it is an amazing 27 degrees with a good stiff breeze and heaps of sunshine. LOVIN' IT! That an the iced coffee I had whilst out knitting with my girls....thats was nice too. We were at Cafe Depot out on the terasse soaking up sun, comparing knits, knitting and telling stories. It was loverly.
Then I came home, ran Thing Two to a slumber party, came home and was offered delicious beer by the Hman. He had a selection of beers from Dieu Du Ciel microbrewery in St Jerome. OMG. The Rosee d'Hibiscus was extraordinary. I shit you not...the best beer I have ever laid lips on. Its RED! Rd'H is a wheat beer on lees with hibiscus flowers, hence the name. Light and refreshing and tasty. Perfect for a hot day. I am HOOKED on this beer. Its fantastic and if I am lucky available here in town.
Then I got into the garden. I added a couple of bags of store bought black earth from the grocery to a garden bed after cleaning out the old tomato plants etc from last year. I set up some support for the snow peas and planted them, spinach, radishes, and some lettuce. Now I am pooped and rerady for some supper and more beer?

Red Lily Beetles

I has them. And I saw them doin' "the sex". EEeeeewwwwwww. Now they must die.

A Letter

Dear Barista at Cafe Depot last night,
I'm pretty sure my decaf iced latte was NOT decaf. My sleepless night and lost day are on your head.

Homicidally yours,
Sleep Deprived and not lovin' it.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

The sun is actually trying to returnm but rain is still possible. Do I risk the clothesline? Hmmmmm
I have more garden plans for thsi season...a 4 square foot potato bin and a HOT planter on the south side foundation of the house, perched on the driveway pavers. This would make for awesome pepper growing and is close to the water to keep them from drying out. PROBLEM: Hman's boat might cast a shadow on the spot. But maybe not..must gauge sun at different times of the day.
Geeta, whom I adore, is now in big trouble with me. She sent me the Weekend Designer blog link and now I am convinced I could sew myself a skirt, a caftan, and possibly even a sundress. New obsession alert! http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/

I think that is all.

Exchanges

So, what I got for Ben for his 12th birthday was an iPod Nano. I was light headed at the price considering he may A) lose it B) break it C) try to take it apart, but D) he'd love it. I don't know the other brands so I went with what I knew. Bad move apparently...
Hman is away on bizniss so when I told him what I got he freaked and gibbered and so on. I don't blame him. I wasn't comfortable with the purchase but was doing the best I could with my limited knowledge. The sales people all speak French so they can parlez vous the merits of anything but I have no idea what they are blah blahhing about so I just winged it.

I am happy to say that I took the Nano back and found something much less expensive. So now Ben will get a Sansa Fuze 4GB MP3 player in a lovely metallic RED. The boy likes him some red. ( see photo above...isn't it awesome??) Best part? It was only $59.95 compared to the $159.95 I had plunked down with pains in my tummy. Stupid I know...dumb move...but I was kinda panicked ok? Now all is well and I actually am so much happier with THIS purchase that I can now enjoy his pleasure even more. Besides he doesn't need 8 MB at this point in his music loving career. Seriously! What was I thinking????
Awesomeness...thy name is Sansa. Actually...I may be jealous. He can use Rhapsody for a free trial period and his battery lasts longer than mine between charges.

I love my iPod...I really do....but that Fuze is one sexy bitch non?

Oh I forgot!

I heard an interview on CBC radio one yesterday on the show Q with Gian Gilmeshi and this is wahit it was about http://www.greatdepressioncooking.com/Depression_Cooking/Welcome.html

Great Depression Cooking With Clara....check it out!

Blah blah blah

Today was a beautiful day. Gorgeous. I went to the chiropractor, shopping for Ben's bday gift (gasp wheeze omgs too much munnies), and then home again to have lunch ready for the boys. Then, I took a nap.
I am just SO busy, non? The dishes are piled sky high, there is always laundry to do ( all...ways..), not to mention vacuumings and various sanitations of the premises.. But no...I chose to curl up on the sofa and nap because I COULD.
This morning Hman left on a wee trip to Ottawa (I think) and will be back Saturday, so technically noone is going to catch me in my more than usually slackingness until then. By which time it will all be caught up etc because that is Ben's TWELFTH birthday. We will be going bowling, having pizza and cake , having a friend for overnight, so you know I don't want reports of especially scary housekeeping leaking to the other mom's whom I don't know.
SWEATER progress: I al 2 rows away from leaving the pink and picking up the blue. Praise the yarny dieties and hallelujah because I do hate this shade of pink. I was working on it at the chiropractor's office while I waited for my turn. I was early, having misjudged how severe the traffic would be. I enjoy working with two colour when there is a simple and easy repeat to the pattern. this is why the Norwegian mitten and I are parting ways and it will be ripped. I just don't have the attention span necessary to be looking at my chart ALL THE TIME for what to do next. I broke the news to the recipient of the non existant pair of mittens and she's cool with it. Now I can make socks with that yummy coloured handyed...mwahahahaha.
I freaked out a sweet man yesterday (cuz thats how I roll) by calling him on the phone. LOL I had a question about the snow peas I want to plant so I contacted The Organic Farm in Newfoundland ( http://www.theorganicfarm.net/index.html ) to ask "Just how cold hardy is "super cold hardy"?" A very nice man was surprised to get a call from Quebec but was lovely to speak with on the subject. I'm still getting a feel for the seasons here and have now a rough idea of the last average frost date for my area (somewhere between Trois Rivieres and Montreal's) which lays it somewhere between the 3rd of May and the 19th of May. Hmm. I will be away until the 12th of May so that solves that issue.
Spring is very different here than back home. In NS its a long lingering season of mud and chilliness that switches back and forth teasingly from warm to frigid. My average last frost date was around May 25th there but I knew to be wary. I once planted my peas in early April because it was such a balmy spring that year...its a very VARIABLE season when one is near the sea but I had a feel for it most times and did ok.
Here? Not so much. It goes from snow to flowers within days and I never know whether to trust the heat to stay until...well...it stays and then its kinda late for the peas (they like cooler temps). Now at least I know that "super cold hardy" does not mean they can withstand below 0 temperatures (which we still get at night but less frequently) so now I will treat them just like any other pea. Thanks again to Mike of The Organic Farm in Newfoundland for the chat and the nice email.
I need to go buy new gloves (again) for the weedings etc that need doing right now. I get new gloves EVERY YEAR and lose them. Now, here is a question... I have very nice leather winter lady gloves that I don't wear but have incase I need to be a dressed up lady in winter and can't wear my mittens or other handwear. Would it be ridiculous or frugally smart to not buy gloves for weeding and just repurpose the unused gloves (of which I have 2 pair...possibly 3)? I just hate going and buying yet another pair of good gloves to protect me from the thorns etc and then they are gone before the end of summer.

Today's adventures.

I am going to order my alpine strawberry plants today. I am very excited.
Source: http://www.richters.com/ Richter's Herbs in Ontario.

If I space things out ok in the bed I should fit 20 plants. I want Alpine strawberries so that I don't have the hassle of runners (the shoots that come off strawberry plants and make new plants), I can fit more plants per square foot of garden space (no runners), and they bear fruit all season long with proper growing conditions. True, the berries are smaller than commercial varieties but these will have that wild strawberry flavour. In gourmet lingo they are called "Fraises des bois" and i would rather grow them then the usual ones because they are just so much easier and don't take over the entire yard...if I wantedto I could put some in the flower beds for snacks while weeding...they make excellent edging or potted plants. These plants should bear fruit for 4 or 5 years before things need replacing and in THAT case I could use seeds from my own fruit to propagate new plants. Hman loves strawberries and always wanted a big crop but he never really helped out with trying to keep the weeds at bay or sorting out the mothers from the runners, so now that I am trying again its what I say that goes. And he will pay for them.

I was looking around for blueberry bushes but came up with not much at this point. Gonna keep hunting. Its usually cheaper to order than to buy at the nurseries and garden centers. I think I can fit four along the pool fence.

In other newses, the sweater is coming along. I had a scare Friday night on my stitch count but it just turns out that A) my notes were incompletye and B) I'm a dumbass. All turned out to be well once I had my revelation of where all those extra stitches came from and why the math said they should be MORE and my notes said LESS. I was peeing at the time. Never doubt the power of a pee break to bring break throughs in a conundrum. So now I am on the 3rd row of the pattern chart. Its a VERY simple chart...easy 7 stitch repeats but goes slow because I worry about my float lengths in the back. Too short and the knitting will pucker...too long and its messy. I am aiming for slightly too long rather than too short. No sense in expecting JUST RIGHT because thats just silly in my hands.

The Easter candy rush has come and is slowly passing ...the guys were thrilled with the bunny's sugary offerings, his thank you note for the baby carrots they left out for him, the books, Spinbrush toothbrushes, bubble wand swords, and DS Games they each recieved. Happy guys they are.

THIS weekend Ben turns twelve. We need to have an invitation to his friend for sleeping over Saturday and also some bowling. Meant to do that yesterday but forgot.

Time to hang out more laundry...have I mentioned my clothes line love affair? Its still going strong. Love it and this great line drying weather.

Midweek

Today is Wednesday and its usually a good day for me. Mid week I have caught up from the weekend and have a knit night to look forward to. Its also lately been Chiroprator day and I like that too. Next week it'll be Thursday though.
My hand is sore as Flup after today's session. On a good note, Sunday's emotional freakfest released a LOT of pent up stress and my shoulders and neck were way looser and had fewer rock hard knots to work out.
After school Hman and I had a session with the school VP and Ben's teacher and a psychologist who had spent some time with Ben etc. The verdict? Ben's an odd duck. Now...is he odd just because he's odd? Or is it something other than the ADD at work( for example: Asperger's etc?)to a specialist. Now, we have been trying to get Ben to someone for 3 1/2 years...ARGH!!!!!! At least we have this psychologist on our side and she can provide her report and recommendations, which we will then take to the doctor we have been using for the last year or so, and HOPEFULLY he can refer us to the specialisty doctor she recommends. Its a French term that I don't understand. I will be hiring my translator friend to translate the Psychologist report for me. ( Also, Ben suffers from extreme anxiety when he has to perform tasks under pressure like times math quizes. He freezes up. Both the psychologist and his teacher were aware of this.)
In theory, we have gotten somewhere..that somewhere is actually scarily similar to where we have been. Since Ben was an infant there was always something different...I just took it to mean I was doing everything wrong. After awhile it became obvious that it was something else. When he was a toddler we had him assessed for Autism. That wasn't it, but he did have some developmental delays and with help, he got caught up to average. By grade two we knew that he still wasn't like other kids so we saw a pediatrician specialist in ADD/ ADHD. Benw as diagnosed (correctly) as having Attention Deficit Disorder and his academic life went from 0 to 60 within weeks. It was amazing. Still....there was something there. Personality? Or some sort of condition that with proper therapies, his way in the social world could be eased. Secondary school is approaching way too fast and with it will be all kinds of stresses and social mores that he just ain't gonna be able to cope with.
At least we will soon have the report to take to the doctor and get put in the right direction to getting Ben the help he needs.

Photo day 2

My new Clothesline!! It only took 3 years. The repurposed top to our shade gazebo frame will be a bean teepee this summer. I have crocuses showing but it got cold and we had flurries today so they haven't yet had their day in the sun.
And of course more Newman. How he has grown!!

Photo day

Cats in baskets...what could be better? And my mom's sweater...LOOK sleeves!!

Yes, but then what?

I never really understood the allure of dyeing eggs, beyond the fact that its fun to dye/colour things. I know the spiritual symbolism. I get the history. I just don't really get the whole egg dying phenomenon that is easter build up (hello...no longer Christian and not actually doing Easter so much as "Yay its Spring!!" long weekend with candy and small gifties!!). My mom never really went all out with the egg dying unless I begged. And they never really turned out very coloured (Damn you Paas! Or maybe just food colouring...I dunno)

But what the frak does one do with the coloured eggs beyond throw them in the trash after Easter Sunday? If they've been outside in the grass maybe a dog pee'd on them..or bugs crawled on them...EEEEW! My kids are not eating that. Not to mention refridgeration issues? I just don't get it.

Cameron will not SHUT UP about easter. "This many more days....two days off school...did you go shopping yet?... how about now?...now?...Remember I want this....will there be candy trails or plastic egg trails this year?...Did you shop yet??..." He has been warned that one more word will have him receive a decapitated stuffed bunny for Easter..NO!!!! not REALLY!!! ( but I want to, he's bugging me THAT MUCH)

Obviously Cam has clued in about the Bunny. Ben (the elder) has not said a word. Not one. Has not asked for anything special...no questions about trails...no hopes for a chocolate extravaganza... Its a little eerie in comparison and makes me a tad sad. I think Cameron spilled the beans to his brother. He never can keep his mouth shut even when asked expressly to keep his new found Bunny discovery to himself. Maybe thats why Ben is saying nothing at all. Because the obvious ruse that he was willing to pretend to believe in has been revealed and now there is no more make believe magic for him to partake of.

Or maybe he just hasn't noticed the date yet......

Links to past

Here are some links to past articles I have written. I don't want them to disappear into th ether because they are old and I usually forget that I have written anything other than this silly blog. As always, hyperlink and I don't get along. WHY OH WHY, hyperlink??!

http://www.acountrylife.com/page.php?id=63

http://www.acountrylife.com/page.php?id=48

http://www.canadianparents.com/article/frugal-living

http://www.canadianparents.com/article/frugal-living--creative- uses-for-household-items

Memo

Dear Weather,
You suck.
Sincerely,
Me

Pasta recipe for you

I made something yummy tonight so I thought I'd share.


MIXED SEAFOOD PASTA:

Ingredients list : one bag of frozen shrimp and scallops (about a pound?), thawed
2 Tbsp Oil
2 Tbsp Butter (oh..forgot to mention its not a low fat recipe)
2 cloves garlic minced (or more is good too)
a bunch of sun dried tomatoes chopped coarsely
2 Tbsp capers
1 tsp or more of dried basil
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
pinch or two of salt
splash or two of lemon juice
1/4 tsp or so red pepper flakes or crushed red pepper
Parmesan cheese

Heat oil and butter in a pan, then gently sautee the minced garlic. Takes about 5 minutes and do not let it brown.
Turn up the heat to medium high and add the thawed and rinsed seafood, shaking the pan and stirring to get all the garlicky buttery oil all over it and to keep them from cooking too fast.
Add everything else except the parmesan and stir, shaking the pan. There should be a fair amount of liquid in the pan...this is good. If there isn't then add some fish stock.
When the shrimp and fairly pink but NOT overcooked throw in some parmesan and toss things around.

Toss in about half a 400gr pack of cooked spaghetti and toss it all together...add some more lemon if you want and some more parmesan. Should serve 2 or more people depending on the appetites.

Yum.

More...

So, guess what!? That monstrous fine and car tire booting? NOT OUR FAULT!!!!!

When I finally was able to talk to Hman about it he flipped. All our unpaid tickets and fines were brought up to date and cleared last year. This incident was not about the ticket in February but from two past tickets: one in 2006 and one in 2007. All of which were taken care of. Last year. Hman asked them to check back in the file and make sure he was wiping everything out. He was told the affirmative.
There are other issues at work here as well...like how the original notices of non-payment for tickets went to our old address in Nova Scotia instead of our current address where we actually live and the address to which our cars are registered and licensed?? What is THAT about? But that is what last years clearing of the account was motivated by. ( What if we hadn't even known about the tickets because some knob had removed them from the winshield or they'd blown away? Thats why notices are sent...but we never recieved them.)

Well, apparently that computer didn't tell the other computers. Or didn't tell the system? Or the clerk made a mistake? Because Tuesday happened because of tickets from the semi-distant past which we were told no longer existed.
As for February's ticket...the cheque was sent in with the mail-in portion of the ticket and has not yet been recieved by them or its mislaid in a desk some where because the cheque has not been through our bank account and now IT is over due even though the payment was sent in a long time ago and ON TIME. It only take two days max for something to go from here to there by mail. WTF??

The decision has been made to make a stink about this booting in court. I just want our 500+ dollars back so we can afford to get Hman's car the repairs it needs. He wants blood. Figuratively speaking of course.

Another tale: a colleague of my husband was tickets while paying for his parking at the nearest automated kiosk. He stopped the officer and said "Why!? I was just paying for it!? Here's my receipt! I just GOT HERE!!?" The cop told him he was parked illegally. In a clearly designated PARKING SPACE!!!?? When colleague pointed that out, he was answered with a shrug and the comment that he had the option to contest it in court and was STILL GIVEN A TICKET. WTF!?
This leads one to contemplation: how many fraudulent tickets are given out in a year in Montreal and how many of those people ticketted have the time or resources to take a day off work to appear in court to contest it? How many fraudulent tickets get paid to avoid the hassle and the monies accrued go in city coffers?

As of yesterday morning I still felt unable to breathe properly from the bands of anxiety and stress squeezing me. My trip to the chiropractor really really helped. I love my chiropractor. Even though she hurts me. Its a good hurt that heals.

What A Day

It started with excitement and big plans and ended with me losing my effing sh&^.

My friend Geeta asked me to tape one of her be Green segments for the news with her, demonstrating my homemade cleaning stuffs. I hauled my stuff into the city, got an excellent parking spot...paid for said parking and we had fun doing the spot.
When we returned to my car the was a notice on my windshield...and a frikkin' BOOT ON MY WHEEL!!! Thats when I lost it. I was on a tight schedule to get back home before the boys got home from school. And there was a FRIKKIN' BOOT ON MY WHEEL. Luckily I got in touch with the boys school before they got out and had them diverted to the after school program.
I called the number and the bailiffs office said that we had two outstanding tickets. Now, I asked a certain someone 2 weeks ago if the ticket from the night Geeta and I went out was taken care of (since he is in the city 5 days a week he could pay it easier). He said yes. This other ticket, also likely mine, was also taken care of as far as I knew. I have yet to be able to confirm this with Hman because I have not been able to get in touch with him.

I had to zip downtown on the Metro...pay the fine that as far as I knew was unnecessary and was it BIG!!!!...jump on the Metro again and get back, grab my car and get home.
The fine was monstrous. Definitely wasn't planned for and I am sick to my stomach about it.
Plus my friend probably thinks I am a huge loser because everytime we get together, something incredibly disastrous happens.

What Part Of Spring Are You?

You Are Blooming Flowers

You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future. You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions. You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane. You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.

What Part of Spring Are You?

Neverending ...

...sleeves of doom...

... are ended.

I will join sleeves to body tonight! Riddle me this....how did sleeve one use so much more yarn?
Oh wait...I think it was a partial ball...yes I AM an idiot, thanks for askin'!

Am looking forward to NEVER knitting with this colour again.

I just watched.......

The Story Of Stuff. Wow.

I'm going to sit my kids down to watch it too so they can see how their demands for stuff can impact the world we live in. This video is available in sevberal languages so there is no excuse not to watch.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html
I'm posting a link in the sidebar for easier access.

Booked!!!

My room that is. For Rhinebeck. Mwhahahahahaha.

This year it will just be me and T-Roc (of Dear Knits, see sidebar links), as far as I can tell, which will make it very relaxed. Plus we each get a double bed to ourselves. There is much to be said for not having the "oh gods I hope I don't spoon my bedmate and create an awkward WTF! moment in the middle of the night" stress. And sprawling room will be good.

Me to You

I am going to write down my current bread recipe of choice here, if anyone is interested in using it. Its toasting well which was the big requirement from the family (my other breads were not toast friendly). I am saving quite a bit nowadays by baking my own bread and I make 3 loaves at a time. You will need a stand mixer or food processor with mixing blades and dough hooks (or very strong arms), 3 loaf pans, a BIG bowl for the rising (or oven roaster pan, or large slow cooker insert).

In the bowl of your mixer, place 1 cup warm water, 1 Tbsp sugar (stir it til dissolved), and 4 tsp traditional yeast. Let sit to do its thing for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, take another cup of hot water and melt a couple tablespoons of butter in it. When its melted then you can add a couple of eggs and beat it all together.
When the yeast is proofed, add your egg mix and start the mixer with the mixing blades (or start beating it yourself or with a hand mixer for now). Add 2 tsp salt, and another tablespoon or so of sugar. Keep beating. Now start adding your flours of choice. I use about 50/50 white and whole wheat (or a little more whole wheat...) and a heaping Tbsp of ground flaxseed. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time, beating it in well. When its getting stiff and hard to mix, switch to the dough hooks...if you are mixing by hand you will want to start kneading in the flours). Keep adding and beating/kneading until your dough comes away from the bowl and is quite stiff. If its still very sticky, keep adding flour and beating until its not very sticky. then shut the machine down for 10 minutes...have q cuppa or switch laundry loads or something. If you are kneading by hand, dump the dough onto the counter (floured surface!!!) and keep kneading and pounding and working your frustrations out on the dough. Its good therapy. When you are getting exhausted and the dough's not sticking to everything, cover it and walk away for ten minutes.
After the dough has rested, knead it again. Knead the bejesus outta it.
Now put that dough into your big container for rising, oiling said container of choice first. Cover loosely with saran wrap or waxed paper, and then top with a clean dish towel and place in a cosy spot for awhile, until it has risen to twice its size.
Punch the dough down to release the excess air, knead a bit by hand to burst the bubbles, divide into 3 equal portions and shape into loaves. Put these into your well oiled or greased loaf pans, place in the cozy spot to rise again (covered). Preheat your oven at 400 F. When the loaves are risen to just a tough higher than the sides of your pan at the top, put them all in the oven, about mid level, and bake 15 minutes. Turn the loaves for evenness and bake a further 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
When done, remove from the pans to a rack to cool. Cool thoroughly before packing into plastic freezer type bags for best freshness or some other airtight packaging/containment you have. Loaves may be frozen for later use to prevent spoilage.
If using entirely whole grain flour like whole wheat, add ONE well mashed banana to the eggy buttery water mix. The citric acid helps those heavy flour doughs rise.
I am off to start a batch now. Toodles!!

Kids still sick

Cammie has no fever and is trying to eat. For a kid that NEVER STOPS EATING , his reluctance to eat is a sure sign he's still not welly in the belly. Today he ate and its a sign he's on the mend for reals but still lethargic and after eating was kind of groany.
Ben is still warm to the touch and lethargic, sticking mostly to fluids and has no appetite. The kid has a crap appetite anyways but he's only had a spoonful of requested mac and cheese and a slice of toast in two days. Right now he's whining about the slice of toast we'd like him to nibble. Ooooh...he just asked for grapes! Yay.
In other blather;

The death of Natascha Richardson has depressed me. I have no idea why. Its not like I knew the lady for crying out loud. We have decided to start using helmets when we ski (kids already have them, fyi)because such a minor accident should not have such severe repercussions. Also, I am the faller. I don't think Hman has fallen on skis since he was a kid but you never know what may come to pass and though I expected some macho, expert skiier resistance from him when I mentioned/passed down the new law that we should have helmets too, he was all for it. Lets hope we remember in time for next years season.
I had a dream about the Neeson/Richardsons and woke up sad. See? Strangely affected. I think its because there is so much chaos in our life right now with Hman's worklife and the kids sick etc etc. Jeez I was even reading some crappy John Ringo alien invasion novel and was saddened by the idea of humanity fighting for their very existance and then started wondering what I should prepare...then I remembered that we are NOT FACING EXTINCTION AT THE HANDS OF CARNIVOROUS ALIENS, SHITHEAD!!
See?? Sick kids at home for 3 days can make an otherwise normalish woman lose her frikkin' mind.
I really feel the need to shop and feel normal again.

Day 2

The vomiting has stopped and light solids have been kept down but appetites are still fairly small. Their normal personalities begin to reassert themselves and complaints begin (This rice is mushy! I don't want to get my own ginger ale! More
popsicles!!).
Life seems to be returning to normal and I think these guys may go back to school tomorrow, depending on the fevers.

Life in Real Life

Real life can be rather sucky in comparison to movies, sit-coms, sci fi and fantasy novels...
Today's dose of real life was administered at about 3:45 AM in the form of Cammie being sick in the bathroom sink and my needing to unclog it. It progressed to Ben 's throwing up 3 times between 6:30 and 7 am.
Both boys have continued to vomit tghrough out the morning in a sporadic fashion. Their bodies have decided that evacuation by rear doors is also imperative.
Thank gods it warm enough to crack the bathroom window to ventilate our situation a little. They are now resting comfortably with half a cherry Popsicle each and flat ginger ale, after having swallowed a Ginger Gravol pill. If this stays they may have more of each and maybe some crackers.

Laundry Powder talk: cross posted....

I have been thinking about a return to haomemade laundry soap for awhile. I used to make a "liquid" form when the kids were younger and in diapers and I had lots of laundry to do, because I needed to squeeze wvery penny until it shrieked for mercy. Eventually I got lazy though when our income improved I started buying laundry detergents again. I know! I'm an idiot!! I didn't realise that with all the unknown ingredients store bought detergents contain, even those marked phosphate free, I was not doing the environment any favours or my family's health either.

I found simple POWDERED versions of laundry soap online and I will share here what I am going to do from now on. Using equal amounts of the following:

Pure Soap Flakes : take bars of pure soap and grate them..voila ..soap flakes. Try to choose a soap that doesn't use petroleum products. In the past I used bath sized bars of Ivory and really liked the clean smell of our laundry and it was the least expensive soap I could find. Dial, Dove, etc are not PURE soaps. I have no idea whether Ivory contains petroleum based ingredients or not.

Borax: disinfects, deodorizes, helps with stains, softens water...Google it.

Washing Soda:(Sodium CARBONATE...not baking soda) deodorises, softens water, helps with stains.

As always when handling anything caustic, care should be taken to avoid skin contact and inhalation.


Grate the soap by hand or with the grating blade in a food processor. Then in the food processor (if you have one), using the chopping blade, mix all 3 ingredients together until its a fine powder. Be careful not to breathe in any when you open the processor. Store in an airtight container. Amount to use will vary with the hardness of your water so the range is 1 Tbsp to 1/2 cup per wash load. With my front loading HE I will start with 2 Tbsp. This laundry product doesn't suds up so don't keep adding more and more looking for suds. The plus side to this feature is that it will take less water to rinse. I usually use TWO rinses and still can here that crackly soapy noise in my clothes. Obviously I use too much.

Mixing some of this with water can be used as a stain pretreat but using a bar of soap would be pretty easy and effective as well. I swear by The Soap Works laundry bar for stains. http://puresoapworks.com/laundrybar.htm I cut/break the bar and store the unsused pieces in a wee paper sack, keeping one bit out for use. This way the whole bar doesn't get all wet and nasty and wasted. One bar lasts a LONG time this way.

Based on my costs for ingredients and using 2 Tbsp of powder per load, I can make a 25-30 load batch of laundry powder for approxiamately $2.28 plus tax, or .078 cents per load in my front loading washer. Thats pretty good in my books. I decided to start with 2 Tbsp (or 30 grams) per large load and see how the cleaning was, then cut it back until I cannot cut it back anymore and still have clean clothes. The less I use the more value is added to the batch(Can you imagine 60 loads for $2.28???)
Costs: 24 127 gram bars of Ivory Soap (I broke down because of the smell): $10.99
1 3 KG box of Washing Soda: $6.49
1 2 KG box of Borax: $5.49

I grated two bars of soap (254 grams) with the finer blade of my food processor, and then powdered it up with the other ingredients (254 grams of each) until it wasn't going to powder anymore. Because of the soap its a bit of a cakey powder. It reminded me of Ivory Snow that my mom used to buy (smell and texture) I measured everything by weight because its both more accurate and was easier since I have a digital kitchen scale.

I did a load of laundry late this afternoon with the homemade powder and I must say it did fine. No strong fragrance, one rinse, the clothes seemed clean...so far so good. With the ingredients I have on hand, I am ready for months of laundry.

Quote of the day

Found while trawlling the 'nets for a better pouding chomeur recipe than the one I have.

"and I suspect that this pudding was named when dinosaurs still roamed the French Quarter of Montreal."
FYI: there is no French Quarter in Montreal. Dumbass.