Re-read

I just re-read the last blog entry on our blog here.
Something really caught me eye.

SEVEN MONTHS OF WINTER?!!!

WHERE on EARTH did we move TO?

In YOUR face, Winter.

We recently noticed that, ever since the last 'warm' spell, people around here are starting to dress a little foolishly outside. Like... not wearing tuques... not wearing jackets... not wearing tuques, jackets, or mitts... not wearing anything at all.... (Oh wait. We haven't seen that last one...).

It's as though people have had enough of winter out here. (After all, we've had snow since October... And supposedly, we'll still have snow in April... So that's, what? October, November, December, January, February, March, April.... Seven? Seven months of winter? I hope not).

So I've decided I've had enough, too. I can't wait any longer.

This is too much winter.

So. It was time to Barbeque!!!

I think Steph captured the moment beautifully...

Yes... Those were Hotdogs.
And Yes... They burnt to a crisp, and weren't entirely edible.
But... in your face, winter!

Wait a minute... I thought the phone said...

Today I found myself in new territory. Although, to be honest, I've been there before. It just scares me to death whenever I have to deal with it...
Kindergarten.
I thought I was only qualified for grade 4 and up. AND, I thought the phone said 'intermediate' meaning grades 7 and up. So I think I was duped by someone.
To be honest. It's been a great help to have been watching Naomi and Petra growing up. It's made it a little easier to stoop down to Kindergarten level.
But it's still scary.
The question I always worry about is anything that comes after the intro: 'What if....?'
That's scary.
I've seen mops being carried around in schools before. What if?
I've heard of kids tummies not feeling good. What if?
I've heard of 'accident's happening.... what if?
Fortunately, nothing terrible happened. But that 'what if' is scary.
Hence, all a child had to do, was say 'Can I go to the... " and automatically I'd say "Yep!""Sure!""You should probably go right now."
I also had a few children say, "My tummy doesn't feel good." and that would make me panic.
There was also the question of, "Is this what they're supposed to be doing?" (They were 'trying' to keep rhythm on all sorts of musical clankers, dingers, and clashers to a cd I had pressed play for).
Oh, kindergarten. So fun for the kids. So frightening for me...

Memories on a Rink

How to make a weekend

First, you need a tractor, inverter, sub pump, extension cord, and a hose.

OR, a pickaxe, a hole in the ice, and a bucket.

Go down to the lake. Say hi to the ice fishing folk.

Pick a spot on the ice, and start watering.

After watering the ice for a while. Hand the hose over to Dad. Let Dad water the ice for a while.

Then decide to take the pickaxe, chop a hole through the ice, and flood the ice using a bucket as well.

Realize that watering the ice with a bucket works a bit faster, but not as cleanly.

Take the tractor down the hill, and start scraping a more sizable area for a hockey rink.

Realize what time it is, and that a Valentine's dinner is going to start at the church pretty soon. Try to get the tractor back up the hill (SORRY, no picture).

Realize that the tractor has completely demolished our dock (sorry, no picture).

Realize that time is of the essence now.

Realize that you can drive the tractor across the lake, then drive around the lake on the city roads. (sorry no picture)

Watch as Dad passes you on the roads, going the opposite direction in his truck...

Watch as Dad doesn't turn around, but insteads goes down the lane to the lake...

Realize that Dad hasn't come back yet.

Contemplate the mid-winter thaw all of Ontario just had.

Contemplate the weight of a truck as opposed to a small tractor.

Realize that Dad has come back.

Get back home, and try not to be late for a Valentine's Dinner.

The Chronicles of a Driveway in Barrie

I used to really like winter. It was a chance for all things wintery to be done.
Now, today...
I'm not so sure. With the recent thaw that Ontario experienced, I found myself having a few mixed emotions.
On the one hand -- everything was thawing out -- and I still hadn't used the outdoor rink (in the park a couple houses away from our home), nor had I been able to go tobogganing down the Sunnidale Hill, which appears to be quite treacherous, and therefore suitable for sledding.
On the other hand -- I inwardly, and without contemplation, found myself really happy that the snow was melting. In fact, I couldn't wait. I wanted it all to go, you see, because the snowbanks on both sides of our driveway were already so high that I couldn't push the snow over the hills anymore. I'd even carved the snowbanks in half and relocated the snow so it covered my entire front lawn! (this relocation actually did a bit of damage to my shovels...) So I was happy to see it go.
Unfortunately, not all of it left.
In fact, after the warm weather went away, it left behind a layer of slushy-snow, that became snowy-ice on the driveway. I hoped it would just melt away, so I didn't shovel it off. But it didn't go away. Instead it got packed down. And it's lumpy. So now my driveway is in the worst condition it's ever been.
Thanks - winter.
On the other hand - maybe I'll still get to go skating on the outdoor rink, and maybe get a toboggan run in before February is over. I suppose there's still a lot of cold yet to come, eh?

Our New Pantry and Picture

Well, work on the house has slowed significantly since the cold weather and snow have arrived! We're starting to itch for the warm weather so we can get back to making our house feel more like our home! But Dave knocked one of the things off our "to do" list this week. He build a pantry in the random really small cupboard we have in the hallway! I love it, it means all the pantry stuff is closer to the kitchen and it's easier to keep track of what we have! Dave did a great job on it! He had to putty up the cupboard, paint it and then build the shelving system. It looks great! One thing down, many more to go!!!

My mom and I also went out on an artwork hunt this weekend. I was getting really sick of the huge bare wall on top of our couch. We looked at tons of different things: paintings, wrought iron works and all kinds of crazy modern art things. This was what we came up with.....I really like it, and it looks great on the wall!! (It looks a little small in this picture....but it doesn't look small on the wall in real life.....we might have to put some smaller things on either side, but that can wait a bit.)