Keeping MY Wagon on Track

A new day today... when I awoke feeling great... thinking of the post yesterday... a rant yes... a rave ..yes a result of my nicotine deprived thoughts getting it all out. But today was a good day...the day to start off without that morning puff...without the jolt of shit to my system ... it...YES today would be the day. Go figure that ugly ogre of reality reared its face full of shit ... and yes... I broke a wheel on my wagon... rushing to the outdoors to inhale that moment of peace ... that moment to be calm and to be ready to face that ugly ogre once again. I have fixed the wheel on my wagon, and now more determined and hopefully ready for the next round of... I need a fix?!!!!

This whole quitting the nicotine thing isn't THAT bad..but it does pose some moments in my day... when I am ready to snap... ready to scream... ready to crawl into my bed in cry. I can only hope it gets better in the coming days!!!

I am finding myself not craving more food...but craving my hands to be busy! Whether it be typing away on the keyboard, or hooking my way thru a new Loony Creation, if my hands are busy, so is my mind, and my cravings seem to be creeping their way away.

So lets see...some tips and tricks from my Loony day...

I am one of those peeps that are what you may call ... anti chemical. You will not find various cleaning products under my sink, you will not smell the odor of bleach in my home, and my toilets...the water is clear..not blue. It might even drive My Love a little bonkers the fact I will not buy these things, the fact that it is but once a year paper towel is added to the shopping list. A special occasion like Christmas I will purchase ONE pack ... cause I refuse to buy it otherwise. There is something about all that paper towel being used to soak up a simple spill, thrown away for what? zilch??!!!... an old towel..that bag of rags...soaks it all up just the same, easily washed in a load and ready to reuse for the next spill. And after ten years with this Loon My Love has learned to adjust. The once a year trip for paper towel is done strategically buying the biggest (and cheapest...best sale on of course) pack of towels he can score. Carefully stashing a couple rolls in his shop... he is a glass man after all so I suppose ...it must come in handy.

The bleach... a no no.. .he has learned the bitch'n he must face is just not worth bringing it home. But when there are so many other options... he has also learned...its not necessary. We can have a clean home with out the stench...the chemicals, and the Loon going Loony. I am a firm believer in the good old fashion bottle of vinegar...disinfecting its way thru my cleaning day. Years ago... the vinegar with the added action cleaning power of baking soda my dream cleaning team. I have since changed my ways a little...finding the soda leaves a rezidooo dooo... leaving my dishwater slimy, and my fingernails sore...polishing the powder away. Now my favorite thing beside the sink...the things that makes my cheapskate ways happy ? My shaker full of salt... my shot glass full of milk tags, and my little crocheted wash cloth. The handmade cloth that goes months without the stench... without the collecting of CRAP between its threads. I first learned the trick with salt years ago working in the bars... burn that coffee to the pot you say? can't get your hand in the hole? Well have I got the fix for you... grab some ice cubes... add some salt ...shake it around and voila...no more burn coffee and a pot that gleams!

(Loony note...I have no idea how I doubled this pic above...please accept my Loony apologies... as I am still mastering this whole...blog'n load'n wtf? and why and how is it there?!!!!)

And milk tags you may ask? what good will they do? Well years ago during one of our many moves around the land, a fridge was stored at my parents, and for years I got the ribbing of a lifetime.....WHAT IS WITH THE TAGS? why are the racks of the fridge filled with those little plastic tags? What kinda of a Loon are you??? I would happily reply that they could be reused...and one day...when I figured out just what they could be reused for...everyone would have to bow down to my Loony Wisdom. It was my mom who taught me the trick... who pointed out that those hard little plastic thingys, in the hands of a dishwasher was a pots best friend. No more stinky scraper pads @ the kitchen sink, no more chemically filled wonderbars to remove those tough (rarely ...never burnt!!!) scraps stuck on the side of the pan... no more scratches to my good frying pan...I count on to make dumplings... use a bread tag!!! works great...and if it gets gunky...throw the sucker out..ya know you are gonna get more from that next loaf of bread, or another bag of milk...and best of all ...they are FREE!!!! and NOTE to those dishwashing machine fans... use the milk tag BEFORE the pans go in... over the garbage can and watch as those scrambled eggs and soup rings, or muffin tins peel away into the pail and not floating all over your glassware in the machine!!!

Finally ... along with the burnt coffee in the bottom of the pot...which I can say never happens here...cause the coffee pot is like paper towels...only on the counter during special occasions... SALT comes in handy too around this tea love'n family of four. Your favorite tea cup... full of stains, and rings of brown? Some salt, a couple drops of water and good old fashion elbow grease...and voila...fresh and clean and tea stain free!!! and best of all...bleach free!!!

So I am off to my hook'n ways now... busily going thru my stash of yarn, thankfully a full box of strings cause honestly it gets me through the cravings. Anxiously waiting to hear the news from friends that their Loony Creations have arrived!!! My first ever official SALE of a Loony Creation.

A lesson learned in my plans ahead... Sweaters take a while... custom sounds great and Happy Hats... much better to 'stock' Mastering the art of 'not knowing how to' read a pattern, and the art of "Loony adjustments' to make something knitted...crocheted and looking forward to my next challenge... diaper covers? for a dear friend, part of my family ...Lisa ...expecting a new addition to her family. Newly added to my list... and lessons learned along the way...Loony Arm Warmers.... fantastic ways to warm my arms in the shack, keeping the layers down, but leaving my arms toasty warm without the bulk of a big'ol sweater.

So to end the day with a giggle.... when explaining to her gorgeous five year old son Oxtlan that he would soon have a brother or sister to play with, and asking 'what do you think buddy, would you like a boy or a girl' Oxtlan replied...

" A twin Mama"

"You want TWO BABIES Honey"...Mama asked?

"No Mama I want a twin just like me with brown eyes and brown hair and someone I can play with everyday!!!"

ahhh...to be five years old and not a care in the world...just wishes for a twin...Good luck birthing that one Lisa ... xoxoxo

Rolling the dice of LIFE

Sometimes I feel like life is just like rolling the dice... just when you think you are about to hit that big Yahtzee score.... instead of scoring an extra fifty points...something gets scratched.



Lately the snake eyes I think we have rolled...turned into bupkiss...and more headaches along the way. I can handle it... I know that life is all about ups and downs and there is always another day ahead to turn things around but GEEZE!



So today..in honor of the fact I am on day2 of self imposed torture ... giving up nicotine a little of this, a little of that... a vent, a rant, a loony rave.



lets see... we rolled the dice into the family court system once again... happy to hear that the 'GREAT Judge' was sitting on the bench that day turned into stress and despair when we also heard... "she doesn't want to be here, the building makes her sick?" and then " someone died in the judge's family this morning everyone has to be gone by 5" YUP ... the judge that on a normal day takes five minutes to read your papers, considers the factors in the case and generally is fair to all.... just wanted the hell outta dodge... could care less about listening to the wishes of the people, the needs of the children just says... "sir I think you should just psst get, and begone" pointing My Love towards the door. Not really sure what legal terms that statement falls under, and at least we came out no worse than going in... but really...after spending 9-5 in the hallways of the Honourable Family Courts? whatta joke. Whatta joke that any chicka with a pen can sign and swear on a simple piece of paper dragging everyone thru the system for what? a big old nothing!!! Whatta a shame that at the end of the day, the Lawyers and the Bailiffs sit waiting for the end, discussing the failures of the system, the time wasted, the energy spent for nothing. To most of the women I witnessed that day.....? Happy Hour without the booze, social time making new friends, a chance to disparage those around them, to giggle and laugh and make illicit plans of sharing crowbars and bringing down those evils dads. What I would give to have that security cam fed directly to the judge's chambers...to display the actual behaviour of the 'injured party's' cause lets face it...to MOST of them...its more of a game to play?! I know I had told myself before I would not bring THIS into my blog... but damn it...I want a smoke, I am still pissed that so much time and money has to be spent to satisfy the needs of a twit who has nothing else better to do ...with LIFE... which many seem to forget.. people have lives, people have obligations to fulfill, families to support and spending 9-5 staring at the walls... just doesn't fit that bill.



We rolled the dice again in life just over a year ago, finally upgrading the ol'truck that My Love drives... finally giving him a work vehicle that would get him from here to there without stepping thru that rusty hole in the floor. An added expense to our budget but also one that would add money to our day... or so we hoped. Go figure buying a slightly used low km vehicle at the end of the day... is costing us more than our home... repairs and fix its, daze without the damn truck we need and once again making us scratch our heads? where do we go from here? how do we make up for $$$ lost??? (see above...averaged about $1500 over the last year of attending courts... go figure roughly what we need to fix that truck!!!)



I sit rolling the dice over and over again...just give me a full house I ask, just a chance to get back on top, a chance to turn things around and take the pressure of My Love...who is just a guy, a husband, a father, working and busting his ass to support his family...but also the guy standing waiting for his head to explode... waiting for the moment when ... he might just catch a break.



We have the full house I am looking for, happy kids, happy household...if we can just hold on to that... if we can just be thankful for what we have and not focus on what we are missing I am sure we will make it thru this patch of rough... I am sure we will make it to the end of the day with a smile and love.



I know we are not the only ones in the world facing troubles, the poor folks down in Haiti... that kicks in the old reality check, and makes ya feel like a dork ..whining about our own troubles... our own friends and family facing their own demons and troubles... that is life right.... rolling the dice and making it day by day... one day at a time....RIGHT?!

DAMN what I would do for a puff... but I will not...I will not go outside to the spot where those emergency cigs R sitting...I will hold on...drink water...read the fantastic messages from my friends cheering me on... grab onto my hook and crochet my heart and cravings out... ring the old school bells and get those kids to work...before the patience runs out , before my tolerance for life runs out... Day TWO... I can handle the throughout the day stuff..its the first thing drag, the one after dinner drag ... the one that gives this mama five minutes of peace...outside in the fresh air alone... with my smoke... evil little bitch that stick... I hate her!!!!

Tomorrow I will blog again...Day3 and with any luck ...back to my Loony self without the poor me's and the rants...sharing some Loony tricks and tips... my cheapskate ways to keeping a clean and happy household...without the crud?!

That time of year again ~ There are Minnows living in the Kitchen Sink

IT's TIME FOR FISHING!!!! The Season is here and the RacineCrew Shack is on the ice ready for some action.

It took some serious cursing, shovelling, rebuilding and pulling but we managed to drag our big'ol shack out to our spot on Callander Bay this weekend. The wood stove was burning, and the skies were clear, and there is 12 solid inches of ice on the bay.

Now for those who may not be in the ice fishing know... and a Loony confession that I giggle every year when asked... No... even though we have a potbelly wood stove burning in our shack it will not melt thru the ice, cause a hole that our family happily fishing can sink into sending us to the bottom of the lake. There are twelve inches of solid ice beneath our shack, (with an average of 18-24 inches to still develop) the shack is raised off the ice on blocks at least 6-12 more inches. The wood stove doesn't sit on the ice, but on the shack floor where I sit and fish and stupervise the kiddies thru the window as the play running and smiling across the frozen bay.

Fric and Frac were very excited to see the shack in its spot. While waiting and watching Saturday we managed to put a couple hours in straight on the lake...without the comfort of my stove. A beautiful sunny day where you never really feel the minus 18 temps...until you go home and it takes two hours for your ass to defrost. No catches Saturday but oh what a day!

Dad working hard, pulling shovelling and cursing, and me while no shack yet...took the time to start our rink this year...skating on the lake always a must~!

Finally Sunday was our day... fire burning, sun shining, wind howling and fishing biting~! The kids declaring their holes within the shack, Aspen rigging up her new line from Santa and the wee Fishslayer proclaiming... "I WILL BE THE ONE! the FIRST one to catch a fish" There are still a few chores to be done, dishes to be brought home, cups to be washed, sugar bags to fill for our tea, and a radio! As much as I love Ryki's little songs... "Picky Picky Pickerel...Picky Picky Pickerel" He really needs to add some words to his song...over and over again...I am glad when his balaclava finally defrosts and he heads back outside. While a seasoned fisherman, Ryki is also a junkie for playing in the snow. He heads out into the 'frozen tundra' conquering the 'mountains' and diving into adventures as he explores the lake.

At the end of the day... a big catch..what we are there for really! A 3.5lb Northern Pike, straight from Ryki's hole, caught on the Fishslayer's rod, and where was the slayer you ask? Outside... playing, and roaming the snow with his friend. Now in our shack the official CrewRules state... if its your hole, and your pole, its your fish!!! Ryki is the ONE the once again claiming the record for first fish caught 2010. (Thanks Dad for bringing it in!)

So of course the best way to cap off the first fish of the season is what comes after right? For me... the fish, in the pan lathered in butter and garlic, a little sesame (oil..I am outta seeds!) and yummy goodness ... fresh fish... melting in my mouth. For the Fishslayer... its the GUTS, the GLORY and the EXCITEMENT that comes with his KNIFE. A gift from Santa for the wee man... his very own and very first... filleting knife~! He may not eat the fish... but chop it, slice it and dice it?...NO PROBLEM! Kudos to Dad for giving Ryki his first lesson on filleting a fish, and for having the patience to watch as Ryki sliced the fish ...and not his fingers!!! And kudos to Ryki for watching, learning and listening as Dad showed him the how to's of filleting!!!

On a funny note to cap things off this morning, Aspen has spent the last few days busily sewing dresses for her dolls and barbies. A bit of a relief for this Loony Mama as the girl has only played with Naked Dolls since birth. While finishing up (or trying to) a dress for her superhero she calls from the living room with a discovery... "Mama Wonderwoman has the same problem you do... her boobs are always to big to fit in the dress"

Wonderfully when these observations are made out loud eh?

Coming out the bathroom door... so to speak

Its been three years since I came online... since I started exploring, being curious and reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones, some even becoming family. Circles developing in many places, for many reasons, spinning around the web adding a little more to my Loony day.

I have discovered a love of photography that while I think was always there has now inspired me to capture through the lense our Loony life.

It was two years ago I began the journey into blogging. For the most part it is more on the flickr end of things, as I take so many pictures...why not share?! But here is the place I can write again, use my brain a little and explore the land of blogging...and I will admit now...I spell things my own way, my punctuation is lacking if not terrible at times...and I generally like life ...do it my own way learning as I go.

I like to think that things have improved...I have found the spell check, if I think for a second I can remember how to link, nothing fancy but the little things... I can do. My photo's I like to think have come a long way too, I love to look back at shots then and now. Shots of my friends too, how we have all improved and inspired eachother along the way.

So like all things new, a change, a way of coming thru the door that I always kept closed, I am no longer hiding the blog in the shadows. No longer worried about the google factor and what someone may find. Confident that there is nothing but a Loony Life to find, one that is full of life's ups and downs, and smiles and adventures.

One of the inspirations to do this came a couple years ago, an email in July 2008, a request for a submission from a friend whom I 'met' online, a fantastic, hilarious and talented lady...ARTIST, Linda Woods. At first sharing a love of Rosie O'Donnell, and later to share some giggles, my dog, and life thru pics. I have spent many mornings (afternoons, evenings, maybe a dream or too) reading Linda's blog, along with her sister Karen Dinino, smiling, laughing, shaking my head, as they share their thoughts, and day to day.

The email was requesting a few things, to be submitted for a new book the girls were working on, with the premise of Meeting in the Ladies Room, a book of reflections of women in a room of their own. A photo, how we see ourselves in the mirror, when we are alone, our thoughts as woman as ART. I have to admit, I was stunned, honoured and just plain old giddy. Were these two new friends crazy? My Loony face in a book? NOW? This was July ... chances were I was feeding my chickens in a bright colored moo~moo, wearing rubber boots and eye glasses with one arm?! Was Linda remembering what my bathroom looked like? Buying a house from a lady who was 91years old involved a lot of pastels, and the bathroom being PINK including the tub was just not gonna cut it~! I was on a mad dash, with a deadline (and let me say for the record...mostly likely one of the only deadlines I have made in life!) to find a bathroom, something cool...something awesome...something with nature! Turns out finding an outhouse these days with a moon in the door isn't as easy as one may think? The bathroom at the mall, while cool with yellow taxi cab checkered tile was a possible... but I wanted a shot without the camera in it... and the kids (cause lets face it they are always around somewhere) In the End, it was back to the pink bathroom at home, back to positioning myself so the good side...the one with the arm on the glasses was in the shot, positioning my nose to not look wonky, yet still hold those glasses on straight! The whole time smiling and acting giddy still thrilled that Linda had asked me to be involved! I played with some props, arranged the rocks in the mirror to the right side for the shot, moved Yoda outta the way ... my lipstick, my dreads....all in place to TAKE THE SHOT.

Along with the photo, there were three simple questions. What do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you think about when you are alone? and Where is the best bathroom you have ever been in. Honestly the questions were as much fun as the photo! How should I write it? like a poem? no I have never had the patience to write them. Like a story? geeze that would be too long. Random thoughts were scribbled on a page, with pages multiplying thru the course of the month, eventually after reading through all the thoughts, the answers came to me, typed in an email... I hit SEND.

Through thick and thin and life as it is in general, a rocky road~! ...Linda and her sister Karen, with the help of another great woman Pamela Detlor managed to not only get their new book published, but being the strong willed, inspiring woman they are...they did it on their own!

Meeting in the Ladies Room available here is an amazing look into the lives of women around the globe. Reflections of themselves and their thoughts and their lives as it is ~ ART.

It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in this project, a thrill to see my loony face within its pages, and an honour to be amongst such an inspiring group of women!!!

Now if only I could have taken that shot now! I have a cannon rebel !!! (thanks my love!) my bathroom is not pink anymore!!!! the dreads are even longer! AND I have two arms on my glasses!!! go figure... life is still Loony... the mirror is dirty, the plants on the shelf are dead now, and I should be doing dishes or something..not blogging !

2010 and a whole new year ahead!!!

my new year's resolution... to blog more!! I miss it, I enjoy it...and damnit I am just gonna do it!

Speaking in general, I am not one to make yearly resolutions. Plans are always in the works around here...

1. I want to quit smoking but do not want to kill someone along the way

2. I want to go to Montreal to visit my bro Wayne and the family ... preferably in the winter so a ski trip can be included.... but do not have the $$$ (or the time now that we have been blessed with monthly appearances once again ....explaining once again...we are broke and the opposing party is full of shit)

3. I want to plan and plant my garden early this year... but reality says I am a pro at killing plants and last year all my hard work ended up 6inches under snow less than 24hrs after planting...so yup it goes in the ground from seed.... or purchased from the local nursery

But looking forward to the year ahead there are many dreams...dreams that will with any luck at all, (not to mention work) will become a reality. Those I will keep under my Loony hat for now... cause I just don't wanna jinx myself by saying it OUT LOUD.

For the blog...well lets just say there better be some regular posting around here...or I am not clicking this link anymore!!!

more recipes and cooking tips ! I have just completed a 365 project on flickr. 365 days of Dinner with Loony givertake a few... mostly givertake the take out, the dead batteries or the I just plain forgot (toobusy) If I can say anything to anyone reading this...cook real food~! cut that box crap, already pre-made, preheated, pre-frozen, pre-flipping chewed food outta your diet. You want to maintain a healthy lifestyle...start with what goes in your mouth. You wanna complain you don't have time to cook a real meal.... I say BULLSHIT~! I can cook a full meal in less than 30mins and nothing comes from a box, nothing says just add water and NUKE for 30secs. There are tricks and tips to fantastic cooking and this year I plan on sharing!!!

more funny stories from the Shoeless Acres and life with Loony and the fam ... cause lets face it...around here the giggles never stop. If Fric and Frac and Freak are not up to something funny, I am positive one of the damn dogs have done something to make you giggle (not necessarily me giggle...but I am willing to share my pain)

and more Loony thoughts and confessions about the world around me. ie/ my excitement and involvement in a fantastic new book and the road travelled to get there ...basically waiting for the news...its here...its published and YES there is a loony face in those pages.

I had considered starting totally new... scrapping this blog for something new. A way to avoid previous posts which I did not want to share. A blog that would go public...past just the friends and family online...and into reality...where everyone knows. But in the end, the delete button was a heck of a lot easier than saying goodbye to some of my favorite thoughts and posts already here.

SO for any newcomers... this is my blog. I am a Loony Cannuck living in Northern Ontario. A stay at home...homeschool'n mama living a loony life and having a great time doing it.
A few of my favorites.... just cause
http://loonyshoelessacres.blogspot.com/2009/01/tooth-damn-dog-twoonie-and-tink.html

http://loonyshoelessacres.blogspot.com/search/label/loony%20thoughts

http://loonyshoelessacres.blogspot.com/2008/12/many-moons-ago.html

http://loonyshoelessacres.blogspot.com/2009/04/homestuck-in-snow-whatever-can-we-do.html

Coming soon to THIS BLOG near you...

tips on cooking...using the crock pot and simple easy tips that make your dinner awesome!

Loony Rants and Raves... most likely involving the damn dogs in my life

Tips on being the Cheapest Cheapskate you can be...if I can reuse it, recycle it, and NOT buy it...I will and I do~!

Funnies...never forget about the funnies ...cause lets face it... smiling is fun, and laughter is the best !