Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Longest Winter and Why I Shouldn't Whine
I came back to edit this blog post when I realized what a whiner I was being. Original whiny blog post in black, blessings I've chosen to see in blue;
This is the winter that just won't quit. We have had snow on the ground since mid November, a devastating ice storm that left us without hydro for six days, heat for nine days and no water for much of that. We have had record breaking cold with many days where the wind chill was in the minus thirties. Yep, winter can buzz off now. Right now. Immediately. Go away right quick! But the cold of winter makes us rejoice with the spring! On the hot, humid days when everything seems to be melting we'll be glad its not snowing. :D
Today is the first day we are seeing some melt. March 11 and we still have lots of snow, lots. Forecasters are telling us we could still have some snow in April. APRIL! Why am I Canadian again? Because you are Canadian you get to enjoy religious freedom, affordable healthcare, a just governmental system and no earthquakes, tsunamis, few poisons spiders and snakes, wonderful scenery, and freedom!
Oh well, spring will come, it always does. I suppose being able to complain about the winter is one of the perks of living in the greatest country in the world. :)
This is the winter that just won't quit. We have had snow on the ground since mid November, a devastating ice storm that left us without hydro for six days, heat for nine days and no water for much of that. We have had record breaking cold with many days where the wind chill was in the minus thirties. Yep, winter can buzz off now. Right now. Immediately. Go away right quick! But the cold of winter makes us rejoice with the spring! On the hot, humid days when everything seems to be melting we'll be glad its not snowing. :D
Today is the first day we are seeing some melt. March 11 and we still have lots of snow, lots. Forecasters are telling us we could still have some snow in April. APRIL! Why am I Canadian again? Because you are Canadian you get to enjoy religious freedom, affordable healthcare, a just governmental system and no earthquakes, tsunamis, few poisons spiders and snakes, wonderful scenery, and freedom!
Oh well, spring will come, it always does. I suppose being able to complain about the winter is one of the perks of living in the greatest country in the world. :)
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
October and Remembering Home
Coming into the full-fledged autumn season I remember how much I love the change of seasons we enjoy here in Ontario. Yes, there arre several days during the depths of winter that I wish for tropical weather but without the cold how would we really appreciatte the heat of August, or the newness of spring. Look at me, waxing poetic.
This summer has been the easiest so far living here in the big smoke, we got through the steamy days with swimming at the local pool and enjoying the creek as much as possible. I still get a kick out of the shocked look on the peoples faces as there realize we're swimming-in-the-creek!?
With the coming of autumn is the expected homesickness. With no where to store food here and no harvest to collect and put up I wrestle against the desperation of wanting to go home so badly I can taste the frustration. I know we are meant to "bloom where we are planted" but I just don't want to. I won't pretend that here is where I will be happy, this is no place to raise kids, no place to live long term. I accept that some people like living here and prefer it above all other places but we are not them, I do appreciate my husbands job and how he is happyish here but knowing how perfect North is for the rest of us makes settling in here tough.
I, usually, try not to watch too many documentaries or youtube videos about homesteading or prepping but when the homesickness is thickest watching these things and letting the grief come brings the purge I need. I'm sad a while, a little grouchy. Then it passes and we go on. One day I will get home, one day soon I hope but until we've riden this out we just have to hang on, learn what we must and look to the dawn.
Lyric
This summer has been the easiest so far living here in the big smoke, we got through the steamy days with swimming at the local pool and enjoying the creek as much as possible. I still get a kick out of the shocked look on the peoples faces as there realize we're swimming-in-the-creek!?
With the coming of autumn is the expected homesickness. With no where to store food here and no harvest to collect and put up I wrestle against the desperation of wanting to go home so badly I can taste the frustration. I know we are meant to "bloom where we are planted" but I just don't want to. I won't pretend that here is where I will be happy, this is no place to raise kids, no place to live long term. I accept that some people like living here and prefer it above all other places but we are not them, I do appreciate my husbands job and how he is happyish here but knowing how perfect North is for the rest of us makes settling in here tough.
I, usually, try not to watch too many documentaries or youtube videos about homesteading or prepping but when the homesickness is thickest watching these things and letting the grief come brings the purge I need. I'm sad a while, a little grouchy. Then it passes and we go on. One day I will get home, one day soon I hope but until we've riden this out we just have to hang on, learn what we must and look to the dawn.
Lyric
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Last night while coming home from a meeting at 8:30 I almost creamed a guy wearing all black, riding a dark coloured bicycle in the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! I didn't see him until the last moment when he swerved out of the way and I saw the reflecter on his wheel. I missed him by less than a foot! Man, I was so mad!
I told my daughter, "If I had hit him I would have yelled at him for being such a dumbie while he lay on the road bleeding." Sheesh, black guy, black clothes, dark night, no light on his bike, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STINKIN' ROAD! What a maroon!
Now that I've calmed I know I would have felt terrible if I had hit him and wouldn't have really yelled at him but man, what a dumb thing to do.
I told my daughter, "If I had hit him I would have yelled at him for being such a dumbie while he lay on the road bleeding." Sheesh, black guy, black clothes, dark night, no light on his bike, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STINKIN' ROAD! What a maroon!
Now that I've calmed I know I would have felt terrible if I had hit him and wouldn't have really yelled at him but man, what a dumb thing to do.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
I will indulge in a little pet peeve venting here.
Today while leaving our grocery store parking lot we were almost hit by a moron trying to enter the exit while talking on his cell phone. grrr
I told him to get off the phone and was told to mind my own business. Hunh?! Considering you almost hit my van with my children in it it IS MY STINKING BUSINESS BUD! Man, somedays I wish I could carry a paint gun and "christen" stupid people. sheesh
In other news:
Princess is heading to friends to work for a couple days. For a girl who says she's not sure if she wants kids she is amazing with them, they all have a great time and the kids beg for her to come back again and again.
The Cadet is heading to a canoe trip this weekend with his corps. I give 'em ten minutes in the canoes before some wiseacre tips the whole kit an caboodle. lol
Tank and Turbo are enjoying some newly aquired roller blades. Turbo is picking up the skill very easily and Tank is stubbornly, perhaps determinedly is better, getting better each time.
We keep swinging from hot to cold and rainy weather which is rather irritating. Guess I should just be happy that its not snowing Lol
Today while leaving our grocery store parking lot we were almost hit by a moron trying to enter the exit while talking on his cell phone. grrr
I told him to get off the phone and was told to mind my own business. Hunh?! Considering you almost hit my van with my children in it it IS MY STINKING BUSINESS BUD! Man, somedays I wish I could carry a paint gun and "christen" stupid people. sheesh
In other news:
Princess is heading to friends to work for a couple days. For a girl who says she's not sure if she wants kids she is amazing with them, they all have a great time and the kids beg for her to come back again and again.
The Cadet is heading to a canoe trip this weekend with his corps. I give 'em ten minutes in the canoes before some wiseacre tips the whole kit an caboodle. lol
Tank and Turbo are enjoying some newly aquired roller blades. Turbo is picking up the skill very easily and Tank is stubbornly, perhaps determinedly is better, getting better each time.
We keep swinging from hot to cold and rainy weather which is rather irritating. Guess I should just be happy that its not snowing Lol
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Freedom, Awareness, and Self-Defence
When do we grant freedom and allow our kids to go off on their own?
It really depends on the kid.
Sissy is seventeen and rarely goes anywhere by herself. She is more nervous and that makes her an easier target for dirtbags. A nervous person shows it and attracts predators, they may as well glow in the dark. We're working on the self-confidence issue and she's made great strides but it doesn't come naturally for our girl. She knows how to be LOUD and how to kick (watch out men) and she is gaining confidence everyday. One day she's gonna change the world my girl, atleast her corner of it anyway. She is very aware of manipulators, flatterers, and charmers, these are often the greatest threat to a girls heart and I'm so glad she's got that down. You GO girl!
The Cadet at twelve years old occassionally took the city bus to cadets (he is 14 now and takes the bus all over scarborough) he has common sense, is trained in self defense and is very aware of his surroundings.
Our second son, Turbo, is coming up on 12 and though he is also trained in self-defence he is oblivious and gets lost in thought too much, and tends to over react to stressful, unfamiliar situations so there is no way he's ready for the same freedom.
Our third boy, Tank, age ten us more like his oldest brother and will have more freedom at twelve than the now eleven year old (middle son). Not better, just different.
Our four children (and Mum) are very capable of defending themselves against a full grown adult but the awareness to know an attack or grab is coming makes the difference. Knowing what to do if; you get lost, there is sudden bad weather, an accident etc and self and situational awareness are the deciding factors for me granting freedom and responsibility to my children, along with how open the kids are to talking things through with us, if they are obedient etc. If they tend to hide things or be dishonest then they are pulled close and kept close.
As a family we have established signals, for example; If we are at the park and its time to go, someone is moving too slowly, we have an emergency etc. I blow the van horn three times and the kids now to hurry and meet up. The more frequently I sound the horn three times the more they know to MOVE. Stragglers get trouble. No question.
We have done fire drills, talked about sexual predators, the sex slave trade, drug use, mental health, how to solve conflicts peacefully whenever possible, how to defend ones self physically when necessary and how to know when it is necessary. We talk about smooth talkers and manipulators, flirts, bullies, perverts, and users.
We talk about taking responsibility and how doing the right thing is not always accepted as the right thing and how to stand strong when you are right and others hate you for it. We talk about being understanding of other peoples choices while standing firm on what is right.
I do my best to make home a safe place to let them talk, to listen to what they are saying and not saying. I try to understand where they are developmentally, to who they are as people and what God has designed them to do in the future, that way they know they can come to me with anything and I'll help 'em out. Not matter what.
That's how I arm my kids.
It really depends on the kid.
Sissy is seventeen and rarely goes anywhere by herself. She is more nervous and that makes her an easier target for dirtbags. A nervous person shows it and attracts predators, they may as well glow in the dark. We're working on the self-confidence issue and she's made great strides but it doesn't come naturally for our girl. She knows how to be LOUD and how to kick (watch out men) and she is gaining confidence everyday. One day she's gonna change the world my girl, atleast her corner of it anyway. She is very aware of manipulators, flatterers, and charmers, these are often the greatest threat to a girls heart and I'm so glad she's got that down. You GO girl!
The Cadet at twelve years old occassionally took the city bus to cadets (he is 14 now and takes the bus all over scarborough) he has common sense, is trained in self defense and is very aware of his surroundings.
Our second son, Turbo, is coming up on 12 and though he is also trained in self-defence he is oblivious and gets lost in thought too much, and tends to over react to stressful, unfamiliar situations so there is no way he's ready for the same freedom.
Our third boy, Tank, age ten us more like his oldest brother and will have more freedom at twelve than the now eleven year old (middle son). Not better, just different.
Our four children (and Mum) are very capable of defending themselves against a full grown adult but the awareness to know an attack or grab is coming makes the difference. Knowing what to do if; you get lost, there is sudden bad weather, an accident etc and self and situational awareness are the deciding factors for me granting freedom and responsibility to my children, along with how open the kids are to talking things through with us, if they are obedient etc. If they tend to hide things or be dishonest then they are pulled close and kept close.
As a family we have established signals, for example; If we are at the park and its time to go, someone is moving too slowly, we have an emergency etc. I blow the van horn three times and the kids now to hurry and meet up. The more frequently I sound the horn three times the more they know to MOVE. Stragglers get trouble. No question.
We have done fire drills, talked about sexual predators, the sex slave trade, drug use, mental health, how to solve conflicts peacefully whenever possible, how to defend ones self physically when necessary and how to know when it is necessary. We talk about smooth talkers and manipulators, flirts, bullies, perverts, and users.
We talk about taking responsibility and how doing the right thing is not always accepted as the right thing and how to stand strong when you are right and others hate you for it. We talk about being understanding of other peoples choices while standing firm on what is right.
I do my best to make home a safe place to let them talk, to listen to what they are saying and not saying. I try to understand where they are developmentally, to who they are as people and what God has designed them to do in the future, that way they know they can come to me with anything and I'll help 'em out. Not matter what.
That's how I arm my kids.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
I Haven't forgotten!
I haven't forgotten about this blog. I'm just waiting to have something interesting to post!
We've spent much of the past few week's free time playing our xbox and watching youtube videos. The weather has been unpleasant and we had lost our motivation to play outside much. But the boys are really starting to get restless and on my LAST nerve. lol So I'm sure we'll have some fun things to tell you about soon.
We've spent much of the past few week's free time playing our xbox and watching youtube videos. The weather has been unpleasant and we had lost our motivation to play outside much. But the boys are really starting to get restless and on my LAST nerve. lol So I'm sure we'll have some fun things to tell you about soon.
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