tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331230472024-03-07T10:43:22.562-03:30FibreholicA website about a stay-at-home Mom who lives in Newfoundland and Labrador.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-42314523554705322612012-06-06T23:25:00.002-02:302012-06-06T23:25:43.746-02:30Take My Hand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thank you so much for following me here at Fibreholic. Please take my hand and join me in my new space at <a href="http://www.fourboysandanlgirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Four Boys and a Girl</a> . I have a lot left to share!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-70284605204144029292012-03-09T06:00:00.000-03:302012-03-09T06:00:01.378-03:30Full Moon RisingThere are a few things in life that I absolutely, positively do not regret.<br />
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Moving back home is one of them.<br />
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This was the view from our living room windows Wednesday evening.<br />
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<br />Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-71051889611965634382012-03-08T15:13:00.003-03:302012-03-08T15:13:42.013-03:30ParenthoodAnyone who knows us personally knows that DH has a rotten work schedule. There are many things that bother me about that schedule. The little amount of time DH is able to spend with the boys, the behaviour issues that arise from Daddy being away so much and the fact that anything that can go wrong with the house, car or weather is going to happen when he is away (case in point: The Purolater dude noticed that the siding on one end of this house is coming off. He noticed THIS morning when he was dropping off packages. Naturally, I dropped DH off at the airport this afternoon). Most of my complaints about DH being away are very me-centric though. There is the lack of time off, the 24 hour days and just the general size of the responsibility to name a few. I have suffered from pretty serious depression since Iain was born so we have tried to set up our day to day activities to ensure that I get a bit of a break - thus the full time daycare (and I have no idea how you do it if you are a stay at home parent full time with no break at all. You are my heroes. Seriously.). However, I still find the mostly-single-parenting gig hard.<br />
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Enter a newborn into the picture. One of the things I love most about having a new baby is nursing him. The fact that I can nourish and so effectively GROW an eight pound baby named Finn into the eighteen plus pound baby he is today is such a miracle. And, one of the things I find hardest about having a newborn and nursing full time is the absolute lack of a break.<br />
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Maybe my expectations were too high when we started our family. I certainly have an ongoing struggle with how much of a commitment this job really is (and considering the amount of time I ask my parents to help out, it is painfully obvious that my time being spoken for by my children is not a short term contact). Time used by children = 100%. My time = what's leftover.<br />
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With all of this in mind, please tell me why am I so upset about the fact that Finlay turned five months old today marking one month to go before he starts solid food which, in turn, means the start of me gaining more freedom?<br />
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Parenthood. It'll make you crazy.<br />
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I love you, Little Boy. Please stop growing so freaking fast.<br />
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<br />Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-36051241160119238402012-02-22T07:00:00.000-03:302012-02-22T07:00:01.656-03:30Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes..When I began writing this blog, I was inspired by the many knitting blogs that were available. DH and I had no children, three pets and I was gainfully employed outside the house on again, off again. I also had a little more time on my hands to both type and knit and, she gasps mournfully, even do other craft like things.<br />
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Five years later, things are a little different and a lot busier. Three very young children, two pets (more on that in another post) and finite time has meant that my focus has changed from knitting and other fibre arts to trying to make loving, kind, generous human beings. Therefore, I am going to be making some changes here at Chez Fibreholic, starting with the blogs name, layout, etc..<br />
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Yes, there will still be the occasional knitting/fibre related content. However, I want the blog to reflect what I am currently concentrating on which I hope will also inspire me to write more blog posts without feeling me like my posts should concentrate on fibre related content (which is totally in my head anyway but there it is). It is my space so I am going to do what I want with it.<br />
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Hope you like it.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-5137748614275293232012-02-21T21:02:00.003-03:302012-02-21T21:02:48.934-03:30My Mother's LoveEvery week I lose socks when I do laundry. Every few weeks, I go through the socks, match pairs, and put the singles back in a bag for the following week. In a household where I find socks down heater vents and stuffed in the cabs of toy trucks, matching a pair can take months.<br />
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I used to just keep the extra socks in the the bottom of one of the laundry baskets until this past Fall when I had my C-section and Mudder was here full time helping out. <br />
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Now let me let you in on a secret about my mother. She <b>LOVES</b> to do laundry. Loves it. She will also get a load completely washed, dried, folded and put away whereas I tend to fail at one or more of these steps along the way resulting in unfinished loads of laundry in various stages scattered around my house like small hills waiting to be tackled. The fact that she can stick to completion what I consider to be such a difficult task amazes me. And nothing says love like crisply folded laundry waiting for you at the foot of your bed to put away.<br />
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I guess our odd socks piling up at the bottom of the laundry basket was driving Mom a bit nuts so she put them in a plastic bag and found great satisfaction going through it from time to time and making the occasional pair.<br />
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In my world where I seem to do okay with the bigger details (children fed, warm, clothed) but feel like I fail miserably at the smaller ones, it was such a comfort to have someone else look after and create a lost sock system. This may seem silly but I find the concept of taking the time to match pairs of socks over the course of weeks is representative of my mother's love for me and my family. Mom taking care of my laundry certainly makes me feel mothered myself - a comforting feeling at the age of forty one. I want my boys to feel that level of comforting and attention so I am going out to find a special box or basket just for lost socks. Turns out those socks are very important.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-47765528086275541852011-12-22T08:00:00.000-03:302011-12-22T08:00:03.450-03:30Catch Up - The Big Boys<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iain is now four years old and Aidan is two. Iain continually reminds me that he starts school next year. He finds that concept exciting; I am terrified.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both boys started full-time daycare at the end of May. It was great timing as I was getting very uncomfortable with the pregnancy (I continued my habit of extreme 'all day sickness' the entire pregnancy). Iain is blossoming there and I am so glad he has had this opportunity to branch out especially before he starts school. He is a quiet, serious and deep thinking child. The daycare environment has worked wonders on him. Aidan, on the other hand, fears nothing and needs to learn how to sort out his differences with other children such as alternatives to using his teeth/fists or pushing! He has a quick temper which immediately diffuses once he lashes out but, hey, he is two!</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon Iain's suggestion, both he and Aidan now share one room. Their beds are pushed together at the moment and they can often be found snuggled up next to each other in the middle of the night. That helps to make up for the amount of time they are screaming at and fighting with each other over the course of the day. Fun times.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iain describes Aidan as having 'no brakes'. That is the best description I have ever heard to describe my second son!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of the difference in ages, Iain is in the four year old room and Aidan is in the two year old room at daycare. When I pick them up and they first see each other after a days separation, they run into each other's arms. It is adorable!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though they exhaust me at every turn, I cannot get enough of these two hooligans.</span></li>
</ul>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-57382387801482615022011-12-21T21:43:00.002-03:302011-12-21T21:43:42.701-03:30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy holidays from the two biggest boys (taken at their daycare centre - what a great job! Thanks, <a href="http://www.samiahusainphotography.com/" target="_blank">Samia</a>!) at our house to yours!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-84574213985709451262011-11-01T08:43:00.000-02:302011-11-01T08:43:40.722-02:30Introducing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am pleased to announce the newest addition to our Clan. Meet Finlay Alexander! Finlay was born on October 8, 2011 and weighed in at a respectable 8 lbs, 10 ounces. His two older brothers are thrilled with him and his parents are so glad that he has finally arrived.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were some complications related to his birth - one of which required an emergency Caesarean section however we are now both doing fine (I still have three weeks to go on the 'no lifting' policy).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike with our other two angels, this little boy did not come with a move so I managed to have a photographer come in and take newborn picture of him. I am so pleased with them. If you are in my area, I would highly recommend Maggie to come and take pictures of your family too (<a href="http://www.langerphotography.ca/">www.langerphotography.ca</a>). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blogging sabbatical officially over. Yeah!</span>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2Torbay, NL, Canada47.65823 -52.73870547.61545 -52.817669 47.701010000000004 -52.659741000000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-8875531003222311392010-10-31T19:14:00.000-02:302010-10-31T19:16:50.479-02:30Happy Halloween!<p><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/IMG_5085.jpg" border="0" alt="Panda and Polar Bears!" /></a></p><p>Happy, happy Halloween from our most ferocious Panda and Polar bears!<br /><br />Trick or treating is very serious business. Off with Daddy to hunt some treats. </p><p><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/IMG_5086.jpg" border="0" alt="Trick or treating is Serious business!" /></a><br /><br />Jack o’Lantern by Iain and DH. Supervised by Aidan. What a team!</p><p><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%202010/IMG_5093.jpg" border="0" alt="Iain and Daddy's Jack o'Lantern" /></a> </p><p>Hope you had your fill (or more!) of chocolate tonight too!</p>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-41381011039456883322010-10-30T12:01:00.002-02:302010-10-30T12:29:37.700-02:30BOO!In the rush of every day when the laundry is always piled up, dishes always need to be washed, and even DH’s usual patience at the state of the place wanes, I sometimes forget why I wanted to stay at home with my children.<br /><br />It was so we could do things like this.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5054.jpg" border="0" alt="Iain's cookie" /></a><br /><br />I feel like this post should be entitled ‘Bad Mommy’ because this is the first time I have ever baked with the children when icing was involved.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />That isn’t to say that I don’t involve the kids in baking. Well, to be honest, I haven’t been involving Aidan yet. His big brother is a baking pro as he insists on making pancakes Every. Single. Morning. Luckily, the stone pan I make them in leaves enough leftovers for the next day so we don’t have to make them quite every day unless it’s a weekend and DH has some too.<br /><br />Iain had fun decorating.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5043.jpg" border="0" alt="Icing Iain" /></a><br /><br />Aidan had fun making himself into a ghoul.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5056.jpg" border="0" alt="My ghoul!" /></a><br /><br />I watched the sugar induced rampage that followed with horror!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_5047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Halloween%20Cookies%202010/IMG_5047.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />BOO!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-67374907819389206182010-10-25T07:30:00.000-02:302010-10-25T07:30:06.953-02:30Gone GreenWhile we were away in September, a wee bit of green found its way to our front lawn.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_4922.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_4922.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />During our first couple of weeks back, it grew!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_4926.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_4926.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_4925.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_4925.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />If you had asked me two months ago, I would have said something like<br /><br /> “Oh, we don’t mind living in a gravel pit. It’s very low maintenance!”<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_4923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_4923.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />It was not until I was looking at the new swath of green in our front yard that I realised how much I missed the colour that used to surround us.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_5000.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_5000.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_5001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_5001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Para approves.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/?action=view&current=IMG_4996.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Gone%20Green/IMG_4996.jpg" border="0" alt="Para approved!" /></a><br /><br />A lot!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-8930363818633729142010-10-24T08:51:00.001-02:302010-10-24T08:54:56.750-02:30Pet ReportThe pets have been complaining, and rightly so, that their face time on the ol’ blog has been pathetic of late. Here is a brief update on their lives:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/?action=view&current=IMG_3001.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Tobi Cat" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/IMG_3001.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Tobi, our 17.5 year old feline, is still feeling and acting very spry for her age. She does not approve of the new leather sofas we just added to our living room. However, she has managed to find other suitable resting spots around our house so I do not think she is too hard done by. She and Checkers still race around the house at night and she is loving the fact that the construction workers are more or less finished so that she can explore all reaches of the house.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/?action=view&current=IMG_3886.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/IMG_3886.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Checkers, the youngest of the four legged crew, is still living up to the name Mudder usually calls her by – ‘Crackers’. She is cracked (is that only a Newfoundland and Labrador expression???)! Checkers is turning into a real lap cat which we really appreciate. She continues to be wonderful with the children, still never scratching them even with Aidan is a little over exuberant with his loves! Iain is trying to teach Aidan to be more gentle with the cats and it is so cute to see Aidan trying to live up to his brother’s expectation as those lessons progress!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/?action=view&current=IMG_3882.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/IMG_3882.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I’m saving Para’s story for last because our dog is quite sick. She has an inner ear imbalance which the vet tells us is common among older dogs and we are hoping she will pull out of it soon (she is supposed to, according to the vet). She is a sorry sight to watch as her head is cocked over to one side and she staggers and falls when she walks. We have rugs all over the house from place to place because she keeps slipping and falling on the hardwood floor. On a happy note, she can sometimes make is across the floor on her own when Aidan is in his high chair! That being said, we are very, very worried about our 15 year ten month old Para and are unsure what the next few weeks will bring for her and us. It is a sad time at Chez Fibreholic at the moment.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/?action=view&current=IMG_3994.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Camping at Newman Sound" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/October%202010%20Pet%20Report/IMG_3994.jpg" /></a>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-82956796554094919972010-10-13T00:16:00.002-02:302010-10-13T00:19:20.704-02:30Proof of Life<a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_4946.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Rainbow Over the Atlantic" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/IMG_4946.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I know, I know. It has really been ages. I have missed you. Truly. I have been busy, much like you I suppose. I would imagine that you are better organised than I as many of you manage to write blog posts a little more often than, say, once every two months. As usual, I bow to your superior ability to be able to live life in a balanced way. It is a goal I strive towards.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_4955.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/IMG_4955.jpg" /></a><br /><br />One thing I have noticed is that the amount of blog posts I manage to write is almost directly proportionate to the amount of knitting I am doing. I believe this to be because when I have time to knit, I usually have time to be introspective. When I find no time to knit, I usually find myself with a catcher’s mitt, catching whatever life is hurling at me at any given moment. Not so much introspective because that would mean a ball in the face.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_4958.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/IMG_4958.jpg" /></a><br /><br />To show that we are doing well and that we have not quite dropped out of the world of technology, here is some proof taken on part of the East Coast trail close to our house just yesterday (Thanksgiving Monday to us Canadians. Happy belated Thanksgiving! We had a hoot; did you?!?).<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_4969.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/IMG_4969.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This was our goal - beautiful Torbay!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/?action=view¤t=IMG_4979.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Thanksgiving%202010%20Hike/IMG_4979.jpg" border="0" alt="Beautiful Torbay"></a>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-66738801873668150202010-08-03T07:30:00.000-02:302010-08-03T07:30:09.065-02:30Geo CentreWe had such a great time when our friends were visiting. They were very tolerant of a slightly crazed stay-at-home mother and two children tagging along with them most places they went. I got to enjoy the ‘mothering’ of our twelve year old twin God-daughters who had a boy each when it came time to put them into or take them out of their car seats. I also don’t think I pushed the stroller the whole week they were here! Even their 10 year old boy – and his mother was very surprised by this – was very tolerant of Iain following him everywhere and watching over his shoulder as he played on his DS.<br /><br />One of the nice things about having company is having the opportunity to play tourist in your own town. One of the places we re-visited during their trip was the <a href="http://www.geocentre.ca/">Geo Centre</a>. It is a great any day place to visit for a variety of ages and, as before, we also ended up in the Kidzone (the younger children's play space) for awhile.<br /><br />This particular day was Family Fun Day. We were late getting there so there were very few other families in line for the festivities. There was bean bag tossing, goo making (which Iain did under the supervision of a staff member) and face painting. Unfortunately, the staff face painter was a little slow. When the boys and I lined up, one of the mothers had volunteered to paint some faces to help with the line up. However, she had already decided to finish by the time we arrived. This was the first time that the boys had ever had the opportunity to have their faces painted and, though I have never face painted before, I decided that was not going to stop me from trying my hand at making my three year old into a tiger.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3748.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/IMG_3748.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />And my one year old into a rather possessed looking clown.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3734.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/IMG_3734.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Here’s a gentler clown picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3737.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/IMG_3737.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />This particular photograph is very moving for me as it characterizes Iain’s personality so much. Another family with small children arrived to the Kidzone (we had previously had the space to ourselves) and Iain was studying them carefully.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3746.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/IMG_3746.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />He always thinks before he acts unlike Aidan as you can probably tell from his picture above. Aidan jumps first and lives with the repercussions later.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3741.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Geo-Centre%20July%202010/IMG_3741.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Despite my reservations about his skin reacting to long term wear of face paint, Iain loved being a tiger so much that I let him wear his painted face to bed. Luckily, the only thing harmed was his pillow…:)!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-71829311758110993422010-08-02T20:30:00.004-02:302010-08-02T22:39:23.339-02:30Knitting at the Most Easterly Point in Canada<a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3797.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3797.jpg" /></a><br /><br />When I was juggling cooking supper and keeping the children happy/fed/entertained (and failing) one afternoon last week, I glanced out across the bay and saw the drift of a whale spout drifting in the wind. That is a first for me in this house.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3800.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3800.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This is supposed to be a very good year for observing whales (mainly minkes so far). When the boys and I went to <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nl/spear/index.aspx">Cape Spear</a> the week before last with our company (and Iain and I stayed in the van and I knit while he slept), our friends came back thrilled with the fact that they were watching minkes from the Cape. During a hike along the trail in front of our place (a hike which is quickly becoming a favourite for all of us especially Iain who can be heard crying ‘Let’s go for a hike!’ on a regular basis) the following weekend, we saw many, MANY pods of whales spouting and dancing in the waves. The <a href="http://www.thetelegram.com/Natural-resources/2008-06-16/article-1449365/Details-of-cod-food-fishery-for-Newfoundland-and-Labrador-announced/1">food fishery</a> started last weekend so there were also a lot more boats out compared to usual too. Both were a fine sight.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3799.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3799.jpg" /></a><br /><br />July 18th has come and gone and still, I knit on. Progress is being made though. It took me all of last week to get over a very bad case of second sleeve syndrome but I have managed to break through that barrier.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3801.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3801.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view¤t=IMG_3793.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3793.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" height="320" width="240"></a><br /><br />The only thing that would have made this spot any more perfect for knitting than it already was would have been a rocking chair!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3804.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3804.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I am certain that a lot of knitting happened at this very same site when the lighthouse keeper and his family were in residence (heck, at least one of the lighthouse keepers and his wife had eleven children so I can rest assured that there were, at the very least, a lot of socks knit on this very same spot!). However, I am almost equally certain that I was one of the few adding to the location's knitting heritage this day.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3805.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Cape%20Spear%20July%202010/IMG_3805.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Have you knit anywhere interesting yet this summer?Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-60845817742093328742010-08-01T13:55:00.000-02:302010-08-01T14:01:06.492-02:30Typical Conversation With My 3 Year OldJust heard at our house:<br /><br />Me: “Iain? What do you want for lunch? Meatloaf or a hot dog?”<br /><br />Iain: “Hmmmmm. Chicken.”<br /><br />Is it any wonder that I often feel like I’m losing my mind?!?Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-71720283887434963282010-07-22T07:30:00.001-02:302010-07-21T11:34:11.142-02:30Basement Renovations Part FourThe basement workers are on hiatus while we have guests this week this week. DH and I (and our builder) felt that the dust, hammering, paint drying smells, etc might put me completely around the bend while trying to be a calm and considerate host. A construction break seemed worthwhile (the space couldn’t have been finished before our guests arrived regardless). Our builder was also considerate enough to hope that we could use the space as is (with a little bit of damp mopping). We aren’t though. We are using the camper and the campervan. Our guests are, three out of five, Newfoundland and Labradorians (one is 50%, born in the UK and the other is 100% British stock, now Canadian). They haven’t complained yet – much – because camping in a gravel pit is a rite of passage, isn’t it? I think the British stock boy is having some back trouble as a result of van sleeping but I believe such troubles may have come about before sleeping in our van. I think...<br /><br />Here is where we’re at and, after watching things go so quickly, it now seems like the same old, same old down there now. The green will be slightly toned down upon completion.<br /><br />Two weeks ago, the following conversation was also heard in our basement:<br /><br />“Do you want to think about glass doors on the upper cabinets so that you can show off your yarn? I know you like to (probably in reference to the basket of brightly coloured skeins that graces our stairwell)?” DH asked.<br /><br />“Oooohh.” I managed to get out and then very, very quickly agreed. Sorry, you can’t have him.<br /><br />The stairwell - reworked due to putting french pocket doors between the already finished family room and the new space:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3646.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3646.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The new doors before priming:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3647.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3647.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The new office space:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3648.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3648.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Looking back across the office space towards the bathroom and wine closet:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3659.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3659.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Looking back towards the storage room, from the craft room:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3661.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3661.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Bathroom:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3653.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3653.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Guset room one:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3654.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3654.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Guest room two:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3658.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3658.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Storage room:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3652.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3652.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Wine closet:<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/?action=view&current=IMG_3651.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Basement%20Renovations%20Part%20Four/IMG_3651.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Our builder is hoping to be finished around mid-August. Fingers crossed!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-17630729125485621042010-07-21T07:30:00.000-02:302010-07-21T07:30:04.072-02:30Short Yet Satisfying<em>Caution: This is a <strong>very </strong>picture heavy post!</em><br /><br />Although I still feel <a href="http://marit-ontheneedles.blogspot.com/">Marit</a> has one of the best blogging views in the world, I don’t have it too bad in my part of the world either.<br /><br />I was having a hard day last Thursday. When DH got home I requested postponing my own supper in favour of leaving the house for a walk. I usually motor around the roads and streets when I walk, so as to earn as many WW activity points as possible. However, it was such a hard day that I decided my soul needled some salve too. Therefore, across the road and onto the East <a href="http://www.eastcoasttrail.com/">Coast Trail</a> I went. It was too short notice to invite the blogosphere but, as I thought you might have wanted to join me, here is my photo journey. Maybe next time?<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3701.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3701.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3698-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3698-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3702.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3702.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3703.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3703.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3706.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3706.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3708.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3708.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3722.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3722.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3711.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3711.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3705.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3705.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3716.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3716.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3712.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3712.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3718.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3718.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3720.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3720.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3724.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3724.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/?action=view&current=IMG_3725-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Short%20Yet%20Satisfying%20Hike/IMG_3725-1.jpg" /></a>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-74139175517697656232010-07-13T11:57:00.004-02:302010-07-20T11:50:28.404-02:30Double Trouble Birthday Party<em>Note: I have been having technical difficulties downloading pictures to my blog due to Blogger using Picassa albums. It has taken me a week to figure this out and switch my pictures over to photobucket. It seems I am also a slow learner so that process is taking me awhile. Bear with me, please!).</em><br /><br />The day of Iain and Aidan’s party dawned bright and beautiful and the heat only intensified throughout the day. It turned out to be one of our hottest days of the summer up to that time.<br /><br />DH wanted something extra special for their party so we rented a bouncy slide.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3598-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/IMG_3598-2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Iain, Aidan and their guests had a hoot (that's Iain coming down backwards and headfirst on the slide)! It was a great idea on DH’s part as I figured that the kids could just have fun playing with the plethora of toys that we have here. However, it turned into a great combination to have everyone inside playing in the cool and then running outside into the heat to run and bounce around.<br /><br />Here is what a one year old does with birthday cake.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3579-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/IMG_3579-1-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I think he enjoyed it ;)!<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3593.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/IMG_3593.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Iain is learning how to lick the icing off the bottom of birthday candles.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3574-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/IMG_3574-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I didn’t make the boys their birthday cake this year and, I have to admit, that decision caused me no end of guilt and a few tears. When I was pregnant with Iain, I took two levels of <a href="http://www.wilton.com/">Wilton’s</a> cake decorating courses so that I could decorate my children’s cakes. However, time and the lack of a chest freezer (it is moved due to the basement renovations) worked against me and I simply ran out of time. Considering how difficult it was for me to go out and buy a cake this year, I know that I need to have the cake(s) organised first for future years as it seems to be very important to me even if the boys didn’t seem to mind one way or the other. Ah, parental guilt!<br /><br />These gorgeous ‘vintage’ decorations used to grace DH and his sister’s birthday cakes when they were children. There are little holes in each figure into which you place a birthday candle. The set is very fragile so I relegated it to a display instead of using it for the party.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/?action=view&current=IMG_3602-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af258/fibreholic/Double%20Trouble%20Birthday%20Party%202010/IMG_3602-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Gorgeous.<br /><br />It was a really, really fun day and the last set of parents and children left late in the day which, to me, indicates that a fun time was had by all. Yeah!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-48992216635469815142010-07-11T21:44:00.005-02:302010-07-11T22:37:17.161-02:30It’s Not Easy Being Green<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492819768843917074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIYhX14BPCV__FeL-77o73BIFoVlUDUd6SrpARlkP7wqnLy54wt58OUFR3wDDHLE8hbBHYCauvugR3w3QPR7h8WBE3Ws_ZWaPa4il9Dl35O7AZYnkyHhNmwjHgzfowdO4rEpx4Q/s400/IMG_3568.JPG" /><br /><div>Ever since starting this parenting gig in July 2007, I have been looking forward to throwing birthday parties. DH and I loved to throw parties before we had children and, now that the full reality of parenting has hit me in the face, I now know that those days are far behind (and years ahead) of us so children’s birthday parties are really where my partying energy is going these days.<br /><br />I really enjoyed planning and preparing for Iain’s first two birthdays. It was great to attend the parties thrown by my friends for their children. Naturally, I took note of the things everyone was doing at their parties to maintain tradition and incorporated many ideas into our parties, with a few of my own ideas added for good measure.<br /><br />There are a few things that have bothered me about the parties we have thrown over the years, however, and that is the level of waste attached: paper plates and napkins, plastic cups that, seriously, barely make it out of their packaging intact let alone through the hands and fingers of one year olds and toddlers, the decorations and, one of the biggest problem areas for me, the loot bags.<br /><br />Believe it or not, I have spent the year since having Aidan trying to think of alternative ways of having greener parties because I did not want to double the amount of birthday waste we would be creating. It’s not easy being green in this regard but we are trying and, I hope, will get better at it each year.<br /><br />Fate helped in taking me by the hand when I was reading our Costco membership magazine featuring Mompreneurs Suzanne and Suzanne at <a href="http://greenplanetparties.com/">Green Planet Parties </a>(and if you visit their link and the site is down that’s because they are taking July off for family time and will be back later in the summer). One of their specialties is fabric birthday decorations and I bought a ‘party in a bag’ which includes a ‘Happy Birthday’ fabric birthday banner that we can use for any member of the family, complete with a matching table runner and cloth napkins. The thought of these decorations becoming a family tradition thrills me no end, means I can use up all those paper napkins that have accumulated after only two years of birthday parties, and can even get/make more reusable cloth napkins in the future if I want them. Could I have made any of these items myself? Sure! Do I have the time? Not even close. Do I love the thought of supporting Mompreneurs, particularly Canadian ones? Absolutely.<br /><br />The other idea I went for from Green Planet Parties is their loot bag ideas. I didn’t go so far as to fill cloth loot bags with lots of green goodies though I love the idea (but the money tree in the back yard has yet to bloom). I went for the idea of giving one quality piece of loot (in this case, their bean bag bugs). It is my hope that the children attending the party will think of Iain and Aidan for years to come when they play with their piece of loot.<br /><br />What else are we going to do different this year? For starters, we did not send out/give out party invitations. I will be using potted annuals to add colour to our home. Like I said, I’m working on small steps here.<br /><br />I already have some thoughts for next year. Some of <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/new-years-garland/">these</a> to add to the reusable decoration theme would be great and requesting that presents be ‘green’ packaged. </div><div><br />Any suggestions to add to the idea jar? </div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-55792290362091292202010-07-05T07:30:00.000-02:302010-07-07T21:53:02.255-02:30Through My WindowI may as well fess up: I do not think I will make my end of the World Cup deadline on my <a href="http://knitandtonic.typepad.com/knitandtonic/2005/09/the_notsoshrunk.html">Not-So-Shrunken cardigan.</a> Then again, according to my non-conformist ways, I really should set a slightly different date say, a week after the competition ends? Sounds good to me! New deadline for those knitting with me: July 18th’ish. ‘Ish’ because in an effort to maintain our non-conformist ways, you really should pick your own date!<br /><br />And a big congrats to <a href="http://yarnhog-yarnhog.blogspot.com/2010/07/fo-spicy-tweed.html">Suzanne</a> who has already completed her WIP for the Cup. Isn’t it gorgeous?!? See, when I grow up, I want to be just like Suzanne. Gorgeous, smart, talented and, best of all, a SUPER fast knitter to boot! Yep, that’s <em>exactly</em> what I want to be when I grow up.<br /><br />I thought you might be interested in some pictures of where I’ve been working on my sweater since starting knitting for the World Cup competition:<br /><br />Sandy Cove Beach, Gander Bay, Notre Dame Bay:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf4gjaemMJy13uUkVD_wz3BHs1qNqQBPNWEJjyWFgg-Ht6HWXmUowEcChX-ZYGHTtwEzbHHJCrUfeluj6sVMR1_DfGoQpB3UUy8aFl7j2ZutDbCVy9DDaO-pqshD_Gp0MWAMr4A/s1600/IMG_3484.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490828086719085106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf4gjaemMJy13uUkVD_wz3BHs1qNqQBPNWEJjyWFgg-Ht6HWXmUowEcChX-ZYGHTtwEzbHHJCrUfeluj6sVMR1_DfGoQpB3UUy8aFl7j2ZutDbCVy9DDaO-pqshD_Gp0MWAMr4A/s400/IMG_3484.JPG" /></a></p><p>My parents' cabin in Victoria Cove, Gander Bay. I love this place. Visiting this building is like stepping back in time:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-KGrCkO4bFC2oqzZQKGYlJwbw6B-fosL9YcufAIWzsI1GgjKGkphLIaHAfIMH1Gznha_2mYOVMaAb-r6wNtGXlJIV2dpbjrn06pMAqDW1DVYzCIN-bXYvPR0rPwloS-jb5ssng/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490828082294593666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-KGrCkO4bFC2oqzZQKGYlJwbw6B-fosL9YcufAIWzsI1GgjKGkphLIaHAfIMH1Gznha_2mYOVMaAb-r6wNtGXlJIV2dpbjrn06pMAqDW1DVYzCIN-bXYvPR0rPwloS-jb5ssng/s400/IMG_3417.JPG" /></a></p><p>The ever present cup of tea now that I have two children and haven't seen a full night's sleep since July 4, 2007. Brand? <a href="http://www.tetley.ca/English/TetleyTeas/Products.cfm">Tetley</a> (orange pekoe) - the perennial Newfoundland and Labradorian favourite (though my personal favourite is <a href="http://www.twiningscashop.com/earl-grey.html">Twinings' Earl Grey</a>):</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXD4g6ORa5cTLd_5dbg7MMEp4tFlqRQKfO0oPzD43DElJXPhjXP8Ug-a2R3DtUy8LRxeKWJLc76jVwuBcIuhW9gTctyAjvIBY-btKN_4XznktnK53rmuOMWVWGXMMHvU3Gqg50Q/s1600/IMG_3415.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490828063118395234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXD4g6ORa5cTLd_5dbg7MMEp4tFlqRQKfO0oPzD43DElJXPhjXP8Ug-a2R3DtUy8LRxeKWJLc76jVwuBcIuhW9gTctyAjvIBY-btKN_4XznktnK53rmuOMWVWGXMMHvU3Gqg50Q/s400/IMG_3415.JPG" /></a></p><p>Enjoying some knitting time on our drive back to Torbay from Victoria Cove. </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzt-y4RamgePKU9gvfp3koialsuV4H8vdqUr0CexQUA_yoPTxC64N4rvQvGNbRirQast3GXHUGodLG4f7YTUFnU-nsqFvVf3uH1jHQY45UXlPtXoSzjbnVbfdmhpdczdaxH1F4Q/s1600/IMG_3509.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490828100708000530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzt-y4RamgePKU9gvfp3koialsuV4H8vdqUr0CexQUA_yoPTxC64N4rvQvGNbRirQast3GXHUGodLG4f7YTUFnU-nsqFvVf3uH1jHQY45UXlPtXoSzjbnVbfdmhpdczdaxH1F4Q/s400/IMG_3509.JPG" /></a></p><p>I am working on sleeve number one and have three balls of yarn left. My fingers are crossed that the Knitting Goddess forgot that I even know <em>how</em> to knit....</p>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-89170826189152032102010-07-01T07:30:00.001-02:302010-07-06T13:27:12.320-02:30Memorials and CelebrationsJuly 1st is an interesting juxtaposition in Newfoundland and Labrador. Whereas the rest of the country wakes up ready to don the country’s red and white colours and celebrate, Newfoundland and Labradorians instead remember a significant and tragic event up until noon after which we too don the colours and celebrate with the rest of the country.<br /><br />On July 1st, 1916, the then Newfoundland Regiment fought in its first engagement on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in a place called Beaumont Hamel, France. After that day, the Regiment was granted the title ‘Royal Newfoundland Regiment’ because if enough people get slaughtered at a time, you are entitled to have ‘Royal’ attached to your name (no bitterness from me, eh?). A generation of young men from this province were virtually wiped out when 798 went into the fray that morning and <strong><em>68</em></strong> answered roll-call the next morning.<br /><br />When DH and I lived in Germany from 1998 – 2002, the first weekend trip we took was to Beaumont Hamel. The caretaker at the time was Steve Austin (no, not the bionic one) who, coincidentally, was married by my father (the Anglican minister). Steve was a great tour guide and we spent a couple of lovely weekends at the Beaumont Hamel site, enjoying our caretaker friend’s hospitality and equally enjoying the private tour of the site itself as well as the local area. On one such weekend when we were driving through a field near a small village, a man yelled out to us as we drove by,<br /><br />“Vive les Canadienne!” in response to our Canadian Forces overseas red and white license plates. The memory of Canadian sacrifices in that part of the world are still very real and current.<br /><br />Beaumont Hamel is commemorated by a bronze caribou on a mound, the caribou being the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. There is another in Bowring Park where DH and I held our wedding reception and is a symbol that I grew up with as playing around the statue in Bowring Park was a rite of passage when I visited the big city.<br /><br />I have not been home for July 1st in many, many years. As we were on our way to Gander Bay for the long weekend, we did not take part in any Memorial Day ceremonies. However, we did see Sea Cadets spiffied up in their uniforms heading for the Cenotaph in Torbay. Flags poles held their flags at half mast and several front doors held wreaths encircled in red poppies. For both events this year, my family and I remembered and celebrated in Victoria Cove, Gander Bay, Notre Dame Bay with my parents. We celebrated with a bar-b-que, remembering that, if it was not for the sacrifice of those boys and men, we might not have been able to sit back and enjoy such a holiday with family.<br /><br />On the West Coast of Canada, the BC part of the family was also celebrating another very significant event. Happy birthday, FIL/Grandpa D! We hope it was a great one!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-7773110369122769442010-07-01T00:00:00.000-02:302010-07-01T00:00:00.345-02:30BittersweetThat lovely house that we loved so well belongs to another family as of the end of today. Though I will not miss two mortgages (NOT!), I will miss, miss, miss that house. I will miss the secret room that we never had the opportunity to develop. I will miss the built in furniture (china hutch, bookshelves, a dresser, etc) and the beautiful, beautiful garden. I will miss the floors and the house’s history and the street and the neighbours and our lovely friends in Middleton.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rwIwfovtHmY_5nwl5T-gFV-t1lmTpF8xquKj9DTd2C6811U1e3LNE6QQXTKJnnpgpMhGOClbLskO3-L2pC_-TjVflWiZSsvDd8Z0602G4HoZiQ01LVxbs6OlHkc1MI-1tzYPJA/s1600/Goucher_SOld.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488391122175071442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rwIwfovtHmY_5nwl5T-gFV-t1lmTpF8xquKj9DTd2C6811U1e3LNE6QQXTKJnnpgpMhGOClbLskO3-L2pC_-TjVflWiZSsvDd8Z0602G4HoZiQ01LVxbs6OlHkc1MI-1tzYPJA/s400/Goucher_SOld.jpg" /></a><br />I hope the new family enjoys this house as much as we did. I am very sorry to see it go.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-77902283801273830332010-06-29T23:52:00.006-02:302010-06-30T00:06:43.996-02:30Basement Changes Part ThreeThe folks who install insulation (the pink fibreglass kind) were in this morning. It was the first time I have ever seen someone decked out on stilts for working. Is it amazing only to me that stilts are actually used for something other than kids to play on in the summer? Anyways, I asked the young feller if I could take his picture with his stilts on and he seemed quite flattered.<br /><br />Here he is, full GQ pose and all!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxpWk-_rJSP0gBU2I4BSS23RwEiDLloCb9H5Fcy_-ayrzEqv8MGJWHsN40s5YLzAG5HTl-pxyso3W-Z9sSs-UvK12BuFd1iuF1h0NlLZORMtDfVn8DTuZi8ecASV_ddl90NF0mA/s1600/IMG_3316.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387051588578978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxpWk-_rJSP0gBU2I4BSS23RwEiDLloCb9H5Fcy_-ayrzEqv8MGJWHsN40s5YLzAG5HTl-pxyso3W-Z9sSs-UvK12BuFd1iuF1h0NlLZORMtDfVn8DTuZi8ecASV_ddl90NF0mA/s400/IMG_3316.JPG" /></a><br />Hysterical! And I love those stilts! Our builder said that the painter who is coming in has an even newer style of stilts. If he’s willing, I’m capturing him for posterity too. I wonder if stilts are expensive…? I’m sure I could find a use for them around here. Much more fun to get to the upper kitchen cabinets than using a plain old kitchen ladder…!<br /><br />This evening, all of our new space is insulated, including the wall between the bathroom and one of the bedrooms to cut down on, ahem, noises. Even though the drywall is not up yet, the sound proofing already works really well as DH was trying to catch my attention when I was downstairs taking pictures and I could not hear him. Prior to now, if I was in that section of the basement (which is below the main floor bedrooms) I did not even need the baby monitor on as I could hear Aidan loud and clear if he woke up. The drywall team is due to start on Friday.<br /><br />Lookin’ good!<br /><br />Storage room and left bedroom:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNJytZVp2et3GtA848ieBYgI1HNuNnqcl-AsgQRn1pLtzzWY0fQsGDx9KfhLS69HyeNH6TNxgESq3b_1DnvRJkEkLromFjRMmrhrpoRl0y4GWn2IuTqeH9lt5-FH15WhoyGuPew/s1600/IMG_3317.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387056275246962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNJytZVp2et3GtA848ieBYgI1HNuNnqcl-AsgQRn1pLtzzWY0fQsGDx9KfhLS69HyeNH6TNxgESq3b_1DnvRJkEkLromFjRMmrhrpoRl0y4GWn2IuTqeH9lt5-FH15WhoyGuPew/s400/IMG_3317.JPG" /></a><br />Office space/hall/bowling alley with the craft room at end:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94dCUW5H-FTgMSQpTd0g9905TtBd1cADgkHjnVVgdVePvfnV7l5Vz0eE2H8OV44tyCOEd9Xvykf05W8wWPT_ojV8zrT78wOxVSSmTwL7HD1VQfQIDFZP3oxRm_a3pVzEk3zaaow/s1600/IMG_3318.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387059696772354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94dCUW5H-FTgMSQpTd0g9905TtBd1cADgkHjnVVgdVePvfnV7l5Vz0eE2H8OV44tyCOEd9Xvykf05W8wWPT_ojV8zrT78wOxVSSmTwL7HD1VQfQIDFZP3oxRm_a3pVzEk3zaaow/s400/IMG_3318.JPG" /></a><br />Right bedroom, bathroom and wine closet:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicApYiuoRpG1QBVsJNVLzQEdOsDAAekJbSrSRVVLFdiH7RjunBrmw_JOq4tS-ir-e0Y1FPJ8g3C6j1upeI1_CHfI9hpweS_1cfpdIPLpp6WophURCrusdiXa1B9QOeqk-QRQMQ-A/s1600/IMG_3319.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387067912840242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicApYiuoRpG1QBVsJNVLzQEdOsDAAekJbSrSRVVLFdiH7RjunBrmw_JOq4tS-ir-e0Y1FPJ8g3C6j1upeI1_CHfI9hpweS_1cfpdIPLpp6WophURCrusdiXa1B9QOeqk-QRQMQ-A/s400/IMG_3319.JPG" /></a><br />Another bathroom/wine closet view:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJyDbhwIVwE4mCarmvCwgPikdWEimmRbx701SUGGQHdWinxCLqngzcmTngYmf0SYQbncHPkJnYmxGiCbF55TvCQ5MTeJDQtv2-picTKHxFT81VVgrwE7q2F-LQNykatHjdyPNMg/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387075795103410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJyDbhwIVwE4mCarmvCwgPikdWEimmRbx701SUGGQHdWinxCLqngzcmTngYmf0SYQbncHPkJnYmxGiCbF55TvCQ5MTeJDQtv2-picTKHxFT81VVgrwE7q2F-LQNykatHjdyPNMg/s400/IMG_3321.JPG" /></a><br />And another gratuitous craft room shot:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3jiFJAeDSj_itixus_E8YOFDmy44hCuWNgNeFQXE9UosDrRK-qlcXiip-ZKSFRehEEuRbdIdynuwsI9v4MpFnNqU639Kb34aHWIrhsxwfopAaHkYiVXBdUGYz3v4fpev2dD4g/s1600/IMG_3324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488387550380598258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3jiFJAeDSj_itixus_E8YOFDmy44hCuWNgNeFQXE9UosDrRK-qlcXiip-ZKSFRehEEuRbdIdynuwsI9v4MpFnNqU639Kb34aHWIrhsxwfopAaHkYiVXBdUGYz3v4fpev2dD4g/s400/IMG_3324.JPG" /></a>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33123047.post-45790486808889859942010-06-28T19:33:00.005-02:302010-06-28T20:15:15.703-02:30Middle Cove Beach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMBzOlxDrXLM6vDznEADDM5w03G4P_E7UCMEpfTxvWI8SydZUntx8NuP_qqsly5_LFBoWPxgDcVHRV_Ow9fTGDJ7gfXrPvDZn8cY5gBfsRZMNEyp52kooNpxnqzZGw-19cltUIw/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487950352428242290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMBzOlxDrXLM6vDznEADDM5w03G4P_E7UCMEpfTxvWI8SydZUntx8NuP_qqsly5_LFBoWPxgDcVHRV_Ow9fTGDJ7gfXrPvDZn8cY5gBfsRZMNEyp52kooNpxnqzZGw-19cltUIw/s400/IMG_3277.JPG" /></a><br />The weather over the past weekend was absolutely stunning. DH had the brilliant idea to hit the beach for an hour or so before supper on Saturday afternoon. Brilliant not only because the weather was so nice but because the boys’ ‘whiney hours’ start around 4:00 until bedtime and distractions such as those offered at a local beach are how we survive those hours.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUP89S39YmHjo9X8Oz0L4tJzbSHEuHA0c_rL68gOQRDqQ-Jzf5hVvGI-gzzApTx3InHI-RXM-iopwf1YaqDUzyouVx2Mza8BvfbVAb7SWfcbNO2lEjNQfVYxKCeqXcI50Q4eVfw/s1600/IMG_3258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487949439826797906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUP89S39YmHjo9X8Oz0L4tJzbSHEuHA0c_rL68gOQRDqQ-Jzf5hVvGI-gzzApTx3InHI-RXM-iopwf1YaqDUzyouVx2Mza8BvfbVAb7SWfcbNO2lEjNQfVYxKCeqXcI50Q4eVfw/s400/IMG_3258.JPG" /></a> <p></p>We headed off to Middle Cove beach which is about a 5 minute drive from our house. You go there for the beach itself though as the undertow is too strong for ocean swimming. There is a little river going down to the ocean that provides plenty of entertainment for children though.<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487949462688667474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mQI4gQlEkmVhyphenhyphenE7-j6RzCgA-mO2IlXNl3GKF63ujoi2J7EFwLK_iBsZKUnFg6FGzocPujo0zSuAk-Dlzswe4zh4mP_v-T5ALx9GNCC3QJLO3btYaMb4GcQ9RQu_POspr-yfxLw/s400/IMG_3274.JPG" /><br />Para got to go along for the ride. She was really well behaved. Since she has gotten older, Para is not as tolerant of other dogs as she used to be so I always get a little stressed out when we take her places where there are other dogs. However, all dog owners kept their dogs leashed and away from each other. She was excellent with all of the people attention she got from beach going children and adults.<br /><br />Aidan really enjoyed trying to taste the entire beach. He almost attained that goal too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4TftKz4eNGa65bjbnZ_ZtoFY9alyY-y4NQU0N17N_K-elGF6Hg2drelDlsiPOSjJKR5EGLJmXBndx6PnLIHO8ozzgGH-cAlfs4xjxMYWfnDnHWvY0iX27X3iad_yRZe_F-mxqQ/s1600/IMG_3262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487949442566366962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4TftKz4eNGa65bjbnZ_ZtoFY9alyY-y4NQU0N17N_K-elGF6Hg2drelDlsiPOSjJKR5EGLJmXBndx6PnLIHO8ozzgGH-cAlfs4xjxMYWfnDnHWvY0iX27X3iad_yRZe_F-mxqQ/s400/IMG_3262.JPG" /></a><br />Iain and DH went on a couple of little adventures together.<br /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487949455762638722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNo_ntKfXou6jYAKKVovVJz-C15i6l9re2IWvPeHtv-gDOJWzM8uXKbSaQ9V_O5mKtpBQ2LpF5kjyge_Y4XYry9kF3iJjsIJkzVfB5kGKYRiCyNgDRIbeWUVXKhPZOs3Pww_hGw/s400/IMG_3269.JPG" /><br />It was such a great, relaxing day and so needed after the stresses of the week. Thanks to everyone for all of your comments and support over the past few days. Aidan still has a heavy chest but is doing much, much better with no other emergency incidents. Whew!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyhtAOyACd1awuh0CzVHlVKUs1EKWKUIy_9dCQjII3D888LvMCE_HPd0_va9j2CDvBdRvryRkxK9iN_fBbk7oo8XYuVk8Hp43KTeabcT7Xw1v637x_Sj1fBA3NwW2NovtTk0hRg/s1600/IMG_3266.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487949455004917986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyhtAOyACd1awuh0CzVHlVKUs1EKWKUIy_9dCQjII3D888LvMCE_HPd0_va9j2CDvBdRvryRkxK9iN_fBbk7oo8XYuVk8Hp43KTeabcT7Xw1v637x_Sj1fBA3NwW2NovtTk0hRg/s400/IMG_3266.JPG" /></a> </p>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07798572638443660750noreply@blogger.com2