KETCHUP~!

WOW! April???!!! since I blogged? WTH?! Well... I do feel a little guilty for neglecting the blog, I can also say... SPRINGing into Summer on the Shoeless Acres has been busy! Many daze in the sunshine, getting dirty in the garden, and hook'n by the pool watching my growing Fric, Freak, and Frac swim their way thru the day.

So much that I could KETCHUP on ... so much that I have missed 'reporting' I am not sure where to begin??!

I even missed announcing here my exciting adventure! A work in progress... a learning experience for this Loon , mastering and exploring the world of online sales. My first ever dive into a webstore, a place to put my hook'n adventures for now, and with any luck (and time, and more figuring) a place to share my love of photography and the things I capture thru my lense.

Of course... being the cheapskate Loon I am .. starting off with the FREE site, the one I can test out the waters, and see how it goes... also another spot I need to pay some attention to, while I have many thoughts in my heads and changes to make... finding the time at the keyboard proves tricky these days... BUT none the less... now open for business... stay tuned cause I have some new hats to post!

Loose Strings By Loony .. Original Happy Hat Creations by ME!

So to keep things short and sweet... insert giggle here (things R generally sweet ...not always short!) some KETCHUP

da' Farminals

my birds...my sweet birds are laying their eggs again following a chilly winter. I am finding the extreme HEAT affects them just like the COLD, but still happy to be collecting eggs once again. The kids have taken to naming a few, something new for us, as with our previous meat birds, we avoided names ... just something about knowing the name of your dinner on the plate. While it was sad to find Ryki's friend "Little Beak" behind the barn missing a good chunk from her neck, I am happy to report his friend "Abigaile" seems to have overcome her 'droopy butt syndrome" and is walking the line just fine. And our little friend "Peggy" well she may only have one leg, but hop hop hop... she is still dropping eggs! We are down to 10hens now following the winter season, with Clucker the Rooster still clucking strong... ALL DAY AND EVERYDAY! And while I was collecting 9eggs a day, with Little Beak gone, and the weather so hot... these days its about only five... BUT I am not complaining! They are DELISH! I have recently discovered and decided.. with the added cost and taxes (thanks HARPER >>>NOT) the price of feed for the girls has become just silly. After doing some research...the next feed bag will be just plain old SCRATCH (just corn and bits) rather than the MASH (special for laying hens) I have noticed while they eat the MASH part is what they leave behind, and while the little chipmunks enjoy it... why should this cheapskate pay?? After consulting my chicken guru's (uncle Bob'nFred) my suspisions were found true... I have a rooster...thats what those little MASH pellets do...so I don't need them?! wish I had of figured that out a couple months ago?! I have one big hen however who I suspect is in the mood to brood, and while my girls all share the same spot for laying...this is proving to be tricky....?? do I mark a special egg with an X and see if she will stay? Will the other girls in the pen accomodate this mama and switch up their spot to give her that one? its still a debate, and still a "too bad I am eating the egg" situation.. I will just wait and see...stay tuned!

WILDLIFE...

Happy to report ...no bears this spring! while we have found many a track of moose and deer , the bears have not come up the hill for our exploding berry patches, bird seed and feed.

The damn dogs I love are doing their jobs...barking at night reminding the wildlife... WE R HERE WE R HERE WE R HERE!!! Nishka, forever my nanny is showing her age more and more these days, reaching the ripe old age of THIRTEEN this September, her lumps and bumps continue to be there, her hips a little more wobbly, and recently we discovered.. she is as deaf as a doormat. Fun times for the kids and dads teasing the dog, fun times for me reminding My Love... yell all you want, she won't get off the couch cause she can't hear you. A bonus that we have always used our hands, snapping and pointing cause while its taking the humans a while to adjust... the dog has this deaf stuff down pat ! Who would have thought we would be practising sign language for our dog! And Smokey... the tailess wonder, and cat that keeps coming back... our wee furball had and lost her first litter ever..in my sockdrawer?! Comes and goes around the Acres when she wants, here and there for a visit, running when there is company, still a little bugger I love. And of course what would the Shoeless Acres and this animal loving family be without adding something else to the mix... spending his birthday money, my wee Ryki finally got what he wanted... his own fish! Fighter Fire now spends his days swimming in my kitchen so to speak with morning greetings from a very proud boy "good morning little fishy and how is my little fishy today R U hungry?" Now I could end this part of today's KETCHUP with a mention of THE QUILLING... but I don't wanna jinx it... we have been QUILL free for a couple months so I would really like to leave it that way... damn dogs!

Family, Green Stuff, Healthy Eating, The Shoeless Acres Academy

With this Loon's homeskewl'n theories, also comes a Loony Schedule, once again this year bringing the paperwork to an end in May, we moved onto the summer learning... the work outdoors and the exploring in the gardens. One of those fantastic years here in the north when the weather, the sun, and mother nature all work hand in hand to produce some fantastic bumper crops. The wild berry patches exploding, providing us with daily treats of blue and raspberries to gobble up in the sun. The veggies... mmm so good, with my garden thriving! It took some work keeping the gobbling munchkins from eating everything before it had a chance to grow... redlisting Fric and Frac from eating all the tender baby leaves in the lettuce patch, reminding them .. that waiting for a few more days they would score more than just one pea pod a day.. YES its a great year in our garden... ! While we still wait for the tomatoes to turn red, we managed to score our first crop of taters this week, and our salads are a staple at the dinner table. There is still the work, the weeding and the killing of the little rat bastards daily, but always with little helpers willing to work, anxious to harvest and ready to gobble!

So onto another beautiful day on the Acres... time to feed the chickens, release them from their coup, round up the brats and lock them in 'the dungeon' cause the mess known as their bedroom is just insane, and get my Friday chores done today... cause tomorrow is my birthday! and I am NOT doing chores! and the best present I could even get... Our Beach Boy arrives home for the weekend.

more KETCHUP to come soon.

and since I linked to the pics ... lets go for it and post one here... see the top cause I am not in the mood to drag... ;O) A local hiking spot here in the north, a new family fav for a little picnic lunch, and exploring the trails... Duchsenay Falls, North Bay Ontario... nature at its best!

CHEF OF THE DAY...my little STAR!

Sometimes in life things happens that make you think... hmmm? that's ass backwards... life is gonna get interesting. Around here you never know when that might happen... but some how it always does. There are the normal hmmmm? Like when its still April and the kids are in the creek hunting crawdads, minnows and frogs, strange and early this year considering we were JUST on the frozen lake! There are the things you expect... like the saucy looks, the attitude, and the bold in your face Kamakazee Jane... and Mama's sweet kid ... the Fishslayer Aryk ... who for the most part has had no problem letting his sister take the stage, stepping back while she took charge, using his long locks for his hidden power, his Mama for his safety net (yes...I am a terrible Mom that has babied her baby!) and his kiss ass cute maneuvers to charm those around him.

Both little spitfires once they are in their zone...the comfort spot...the places that make them feel cool.

Last week the kids came a running.... shouts and smiles declaring a show at the mall the place to be. For Fric and Frac around here the TV gets but a few channels, only realizing at 2/3years old ... the cartoons actually came in color...cause Mom being the Loon that she is... really has no problem watching black and white of it means good reception. By choice we are anti~cable/satellite/million channel surfers.... mostly cause I am so cheap, and have trained My Love well... but also cause I think its crap... for the most part... advertising for little brains to train them how to dress... look... and what to buy to be cool.

Cartoons, nature shows, "educational stuff"..and mainly no commercials were always accessible on TVO or CBC, the kids always knowing when to switch the channel, dancing, learning and playing.

Saturday the TVOkids presented a show at the local mall, promoting healthy eating and their themed name... DSS... DON't SiT StILL!!! I googled it to check the schedules, agreeing that yes we could make that date. We also clicked on the contest icon and entered our FRESH SCRAMBLED EGGS as our healthy meal of the day option. Go figure... Ryki won!

The 48 hrs between the win and the show have been funny to say the least, as I watched my wee shy guy tremble, be proud, excited and in total despair.

"Mama....what if its on TV? and what if I SCREW UP AND ITS ON TV"

"Mama... whats this?" asked Ryki

"well honey its just a spot ...from the pineapple we ate this week! nothing to worry about...I can't even notice it.... !"

(hmm... pretty sure when the stress came out...so did the cold sore!)

"Mama... I know its great that Ryki won... but I am jealous... soooo jealous"

It was wonderful to find out that the show was in fact just a stage show... no TV camera's recording... a couple digital pics at most... on stage and off in no time. There was a sigh of relief come over Ryki's face... and a sigh of relief breath thru Mama's heart.

The reminders, the cheers, the fact that Dad was gonna be there! The nervous moments heading back stage to meet THE DSS Crew FROM TVO!?

The shy little voice that squeaked out "hello my name is Aryk" and the final reminder from his sister... "I would ..NOT BE SHY"

The introduction, the drum roll, the music from the speakers?! .....

hmmm? ya know what was ass backwards? my worry, was my fear, my thoughts of "he CAN do it right?????'

Ryki Racine... Chef of the Day and Guest of TVOkids DSS Crew

on stage live at the Northgate Mall

Proudly standing using his big guy voice... smiling for the crowds and handling the show like the wee man that he is...

My BIG STAR!

Besides my giddy emotions, and my proud babbles... it was a fun ... exciting and a COOL TIME at the show. So much fun to watch all the kiddies jumping, dancing and singing to the beat. I am an avid fan of all the TVO programming here ... TVOntario, its great to see the energy and enthusiasm behind the DSScrew there to help the kids... learn to grow... happy healthy and NOT SITTING STILL!

just don't forget... Flour Your Balls~!

Recently I was tempted by the grocery store flyer to make use of a sale, one of those $4.99 deals where you get a box of premade meatballs... just heat up and serve. I was quickly reminded by My Love that those are really 'just crap in a box' and reality says they wreak havoc on our systems. Meatballs are like a staple @ our dinner table here, for the picky little Ryki who eats like FIVE grown men, non stop "I am hungry", and for me .. the chef who likes to get the job done in less than an hour and normally... just in time for Cornation Street to come on. And really...one of the easiest things to make and sooo tasty! But there are tricks to this trade of homemade goodness... so today ... lets share! First there are always those pesky bread crumbs, and me being picky... if I can't get the ones I like than I do it myself. Easy as toast...literally! Two pieces of bread toasted once, and then lightly gain, cut into strips and crush! After that I add the garlic (of course!) a tablespoon of onion soup mix, if I am feeling peppy... maybe even some Parmesan

But the trick my friends to the perfect meatball... when you R ready to fry....

FLOUR THOSE BALLS!

A quick roll in flour before they hit the pan... something I learned in a favorite old book of mine from 1909. The trick happens when the flour browns before your balls... leaving the most perfect little morsels in the pan...without burning them! And... a secret tip for tasty balls... when they are just about done...to add a little sweetness? sprinkle a little sugar (I prefer brown) and give them balls a whirl... adding a quick sweet glaze and flavor galore!

And with Ice fishing season here... and our lucky ways of catching those delish fish? works great on them fillets too!!!

And for a final note... from my Loony kitchen a cost saving trick that keeps the cheese fresh, frustrations low, and more money in your pocket. When it comes to storing stuff around here... my dream is that everything would fit in a mason jar. I have my own Loony issues with plastic, and the wrap that doesn't stick, or the foil that foils my fresh factor. When it comes to cheese...in this house it comes in a block, rarely 'in a bag' as Ryki calls those plastic slices. And when it comes to keeping the block fresh... I say ...keep it in the package. I must confess my visual aids today involve My Love's lack of paying attention... lack of listening when I say... CUT IT BIGGER! but the trick comes out the same... forget the additional wrap, or finding a container... use the package it comes in! go figure...it fits and keeps the cheese fresh!

note... another Loony issue comes to uploading these pics... WHY do I have to drag them thru the blog? WHY do they go left and not right?

WHY WHY do I have to be so gifted in the kitchen and so challenged at the keyboard? insert giggle here!

On a family note... we attended the local Callander Bay Ice Fishing Derby again this year... third year running... third year we brought home a trophy!!! Claiming first prize for the biggest Northern Pike... Ryki was very proud to bring home ... a BIGGER trophy compared to years gone by. And while I am willing to confess... it was Dad who actually brought in the fish, I am also proud to say that once again my kids have clocked many hours out on the frozen lake... fishing EATING, skating and playing in and around humble little shack. Our Beach Boy's first year on the frozen lake...fishing with his Dad, smiling and laughing with the fam...LOVING ice fishing like the rest of us! (AND besides...the adults do not get trophies! only the kids do!)

With only a couple weeks left of the season...here's hoping for many more fish in the pan!

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?

Free Range

Well here we go again, into another year of school, another year of homeskewl'n me brats on the Shoeless Acres and another year of exploring life. I couldn't do it, I thought about it for one or two of those nanoseconds, but at the end of the day I just couldn't do it sending my kids to face life ini the public school system. Maybe.. maybe if we lived back home (and I could actually afford it) I would send them to the Waldorf School of Learning...but that again another dream.

You cannot tell by the fantastic weather here but summer is coming to an end, it isn't hard to look up, thru the trees to see the colors changing fast, vibrant reds and yellows filling the forest signaling the change of seasons. While its been an amazing summer, I have to admit I look forward to the change. Loony me excited for the snow, the ice, the lake again in winter... I miss our hut on the lake, the roar of the skidoos' and the warmth of the fire. (I KNOW I AM LOONY!)

We sent our beach boy home on Monday, his final day of holidays before starting Gr. 5... hard to believe a decade of life with that handsome face. It was so great to have him home sooo much this summer, even better that HE loved it too. Fric Freak and Frac managed some busy days exploring and swimming and laughing together. I am a proud Mama of my three wee ones, proud that we crossed many things off the list...

swimming... oh that damn almost free pool~! worth its weight in gold now that I have THREE kids swimming...under water~ JUMPING in da'water ~ Ryki may still require goggles to avoid that shrieking sound of "TOWEL TOWEL TOWEL" but actually swimming!! Diving!!! Twists and Turns... our pool is ranging 65 degrees this week, barely hitting 60 last, but being Loony's brats... a pool is a pool and they will swim~!

Trying out new stuff... we were gifted a kayak of the blow up kind (but seriously kickass) from our favorite the one and only Uncle Reggie and in no time at all Fric Freak and Frac were paddling their way across the water rounding the raft, and back again. Meeting new friends, and sharing the adventure. Who says one MAN kayak???? we can fit a couple right??? Needless to say... we'z be hoping Uncle Reggie can come across a couple more of these babies!!!

The Beach Boy who tends to be 'cautious' when it comes to anything involving adrenaline or speed past a pedal bike managed to muster the courage and try out the dirtbug~! and even enjoy it.. figure he will enjoy it more when there is a seat on it of course... 'hard on his ass' he claims... lucky for him wee Ryki has sprouted an inch or two and the seat will return!!!

and Kamakakee Jane once again showed up her bro's .. da' boyz when she tried, enjoyed, and LOVED tubing with new friends on the lake... IMO... she rides the waves a little TOO well~!

The Wildlife on the Acres has continued to learn and grow over the summer of 09 and I could not be happier...or prouder. No matter where our journey took us, there was smiles, laughter, and best of all .... many comments about the intelligence, the politeness, the overall goodness of my fric freak and frac... PROUD MAMA is an understatement! Proud of me wee brats, and proud that our loony ways of raising our kids has given us such bright and beautiful kids!!!

Our garden, I am proud to say produced many tasty veggies, our farminals... give us eight farm fresh eggs a day, and our newest addition Smokey the kitty has settled in becoming part of the crew, and has remained maggot free (thank goodness!) with any luck maybe Santa will bring her some new fur for the end of her tail for xmas!

Discovering Stormy Lake

Yesterday was an adventure day for the fam around here, up early I was cracking eggs, making sammy's and searching the cupboards for anything that would pass as a snack for our trip. A planned adventure with our friend... aka the friendly giant to discover a new park, to hit the canoe and to spend the day in the sun. Now of course as it would turn out, the best plans always require some tweaking right, like when the sun decides it does not want to shine, when the clouds win the battle filling the sky with grey. But none the less a little grey doesn't stop us, kids packed, life jackets packed, spare clothes packed we hit the road.

An hour down the road later we pulled into the park, Restoule Ontario Provincial park, following the signs to the Stormy Lake Launch we parked and looked to the skies, now not only was it grey but quickly turning wet. No worries right? no problems... like we always say it will just blow over right?

I grabbed my bag full of coins and headed off to the parking meter... two hours we figured should give us enough time to make the call, to judge our weather and explore a little after the drive. And being the cheapskate I am, and harboring a little grudge we were PAYING for parking ....I was prepared for a $5 fee... NOT the "meter is outta order sign, please go to the front gate" So off we go to fetch our parking tickets, one for us and one for the friendly giant, the rain only a gentle mist and the skies... sorta clearing, I dug out more change and agreed ... I would splurge for the $7 ~ 4hr ticket. Little did I know of course that when the meter is down all the girl at the gate is able to sell is the $13. day pass.... which if you ask me is a bit of a rip off.

"what do you mean only a day pass" I asked... "its raining... can't you improvise on this a little?" a half day pass, a special tag? a something??? "Does the day pass include free rainponcho's maybe?" Of course I got a "no" and a "NO" response from the teen behind the desk. My Love entering the kiosk eyeing up the rain poncho's on the shelf for sale... 'we might need these eh?" of course we were going to need them... but really .. did we NEED to spend the $8.95 per poncho... was staying dry really that important?? "I WILL BUY THEM" said My Love, I will get them and keep you dry" (insert kissass hubby here) so adding another $20 to the cost of our afternoon trip I turned to the teen behind the desk and started in on her again...

"so by my count now, we have been ripped for the parking tickets, (two cars) and the poncho's are a little pricey ...so what do you have to make it up to us? I would love a couple green garbage bags...cause you do not have children's poncho's" SURE the girl said ..no problem. "BUT" I asked..."have you got anything else for free? maybe a coloring book? anything?"

"well" she said "there is a summer promotion on right now, by buying the day pass I can give you a free pedometer"

"GREAT I will take FIVE!!!" it never hurts to ask...cause you never know what you might get!! And the smiles on the brats faces when hiking and they hit 5000steps...priceless (FOR FREE)

So back to the canoes and back to the rain we went, deciding that hiking thru the trails to the fire tower might be a good option to avoid the downpour. Hiking thru the tree's over the rocks and fallen tree's I managed to drag my ass to the top. And oh what a fucking view... a view I will return to ... definitely in the fall, when the tree's are changing colors and when the sun is shining bright. Ryki flying thru the trails stopping for every nut, stick or rock that caught his attention. Aspen quickly forgetting that she was wearing a garbage bag and collecting treasures (FOR MY POCKET) along the way. When we made it up and down and back to the canoes low and behold the skies had cleared and there was hints of blue popping thru. Canoes in the water and off we went... according to our friendly giant a 6km paddle stopping for lunch on the shoreline and a quick swim.

The only problem of my day... damn those possessed rechargeable batteries, damn my camera for going dead when we hit the water... damn it all those shots I missed, the scenes the moments... damn those batteries to hell!!!

And my favorite funny along the way...

heading up the trails sporting my splashy yellow rain poncho, Aspen comparing mine to hers she proclaimed ....

"Mama... I look like a dumbass don't I?"

"no honey..its like the famous saying goes... you look beautiful no matter what...even in a garbage bag!"

The Big 35

So yesterday was the day... the day I turned the Big 35, another year gone by and a day made fantastic by many birthday wishes from many peeps that I have loved... before now and forever. A fantastic fucking day. Hard to believe really ... that I could be so lucky...so spoiled to be here...with my kids... with my love... with my friends and family. I remember the Big 25, sitting in a restaurant having dinner with my folks, announcing it was time for ME, time for ME to do what I wanted, and to head off for yet another adventure to celebrate turning the Big 25. The plans were set, knapsacks packed, and I was heading west with my trusty dog Nishka and my good friend Jessica. Hitch hiking thru the nation to hit the west coast. Now as fate would have it, I would slip off a slippery curb only daze later, just enough of a fall to shred the ligaments in my foot once again...just in time to change my plans, just in time to NOT go west. Instead, limping my way down the highway, Nishka by my side, I made it to Wasaga Beach, to my sista's house, to the sunshine, the sand and the water... to find my love, to fall in love and then to be blessed and spoiled to have my kids happen along the way. Who would have thunk it... the girl at 25 declaring myself tooo selfish for kids, to selfish to stick around... a decade later, smiling and laughing with my family, enjoying the most perfect day in the sun, LOVING the life that is mine!

yes...I am a spoiled Loony... I am thankful for that every day, for my family, my children, my life...even if I have to be 35~!

We have been busier than stink around here lately, the usual for summertime on the Shoeless Acres where the driveway is like a revolving door...company in .. company out. We actually managed a road trip last weekend, trek'n off to Cambridge to help out the family with some windows, and to visit with the peeps who are and always be...part of my fam. A reunion of sorts with the folks who gave me soo much many moons ago, a teenage runaway who found a family full of love and support. I was happy all these years later to help out, to visit and reconnect. The best part of course was hanging with my brother Wayne. Chosen brother for life, my best friend and part of my family. He came from Montreal for the weekend with his own Love and his newest addition to the fam... his first born son...a handsome wee lad of just five weeks(now six weeks!)...William. Once a year I am lucky enough to see him, but now... after holding, snuggling and plain old falling in love...that will just have to change... a trip to Montreal will have to be booked in the calendar...cause damn it...seeing that little bundle of joy grow and change over the past week.... nothing is better... the smell of his baby freshness, the joy of watching him figure out how to get that little thumb to his mouth, the love I felt when he would look up and smile at his aunty Loony... Wayne and the fam left yesterday after a few daze here...I miss them already, but will be smiling for weeks ... I will not wash my sweater...I will snuggle and smell that baby freshness for as long as I can... I will remember how lucky I am...he is here and part of my family!

and on a general update on the Shoeless Acres... hmmm?? Our beach boy returns today for another week of fun. I have been holding his siblings back from the garden a little this week, so I we can share in the fun...the peas, the broccoli...its all coming in. With any luck...the raspberries will be ready soon too!!! woot woot for Fric Frac and Freak and another seven days of fun!!!

playing tourist this week with the family we found a most awesome spot just outside of town. A place to play, explore and hike up along side a waterfall...perfect for a picnic in the sun. We didn't even make it all the way to the top...but that just makes our return trip more exciting.

We have a new addition to the wildlife around here as well...one that was not planned, intended and even attempted to ditch...but one that seems determined to survive and stick around. Smokey Racine showed up on our door last week, and being the Loon that I am I just couldn't leave her to the wild to be gobbled up MORE so I gave her some food, some shelter, and daze later...requested my housesitter 'get rid' of the cat before our return from our trip. 'getting rid' of the cat resulted in a two block trip down the road on a quad... the cat jumping off and rolling into the ditch to 'not be seen again' ... on the road maybe...but the little furball managed to find her way back to our door, back to the Loony sucker that says... a survivor like that might as well stay...might as well join in on the fun around the Shoeless Acres. Little did I know then what I was in for or what I would end up doing...it resulted in ...eww yuck gross and gag.
(insert warning here... the following may be gross...but hell its loony reality and if you are here...you might as well know how crazy I really am!!)
It would seem as though our little kitty from the wild had experience some trauma on her journey here. her little kitty paw pads ripped and torn, and her tail...half missing ... chewed off, ripped off... it was not there, only half a tail for the little grey cat. So while bathing her up, and checking her out ... what should I discover? a large open wound on her remaining tail... and what should I find in that large wound... yes those unpleasant little things known as maggots!!! so hands washed and onto my laptop.... a google here, a phone call there, and twenty dollars at the pharmacy later.... I sat on the sidewalk equipped with some rubber(gloves) tweezers and some polysporin, some alcohol to kill the little fuckers and plucked away to make the little cat's day. Two days later it would seem I have fixed that problem... she may be a funny looker with half a tale, a short stubby pink nub at the end...but she is now our little funny feline. By my count...two lives (atleast) down and seven more to go. The newest feline friend to roam the acres... and I say roam cause she ain't coming inside. I lost one crock pot to a feline friend last year..and it ain't happening again

Home...stuck in the snow whatever can we do?

I am stuck a little right now on the word home? where is home? where the heart is? where you live? where you grew up?

Sunday I was packing the brats into the car and heading back to my sister's for cake and ice cream, and when my Mom asked..."where are you going" I said..'home for cake and ice cream'

She corrected me and said...that is not your home?! and while I know ...it is not MY home, I really consider it home, because that is where my sister is, my nieces, my family.

For us ~ going home usually means back to the farm....Uncle Fred's. A crusty old farmhouse lived in by a crusty old redneck. You know there is a stack of dishes on the counter, dirt on the floor, and you better check the couch...just incase the old man was removing porcupine quills from one of the dogs and left one behind. Not the ritz...but always home. You know you can do what you want...including staying in PJS for a couple days, you can say what you want..including Ryki running thru the kitchen yelling..just going to take a piss don't change that channel, and even in a snow storm when its tooo crappy to go outside, when the cupboards are bare...cause lets face it...old single rednecks generally don't eat alot you are home.

Uncle Fred searches his stash and manages to bake a chocolate cake, find the last of the balloons to have some fun, and presents Aspen with a stack of newsprint...something they wrap the flyers in now...but also giant paper for ART~! and of course the usual round of 'teach us how please...we want to call the birds too.

Home is where the heart is.......

Home to me is unconditional welcoming...unconditional love...no expectations other than be here...be well...and feel at home

it was GREAT to be home!