WOOOHOOO for the Clearance Rack!

As a self declared cheapskate, there are things in life that I just say no to, simply because it's like shoving a bug up my butt to spend money on things that are not necessary, that have prices inflated just cause of the season, or the tag attached. I was pleased this summer to see I have passed my ways onto the brats, Fric and Frac during a visit from one of our most favorite peeps ever! "D" ~ while visiting and sitting my brats for a couple hours opted to take them to the grocery store for a little shopping. When "D" mentioned to Fric and Frac that maybe a visit to the bakery section for a treat would be in order, my wee brats lit right up and directed "D" to the clearance rack, explaining that not only would they save money buying from the rack, BUT because the food would expire soon, it was a great excuse to EAT THE WHOLE PACKAGE! No rations as the kids like to refer to eating treats!

As a result of my cheapskate ways, there have been a few things in life that I have 'just not got'. I am also a bit of a scrooge when it comes to the xmas holidays, and while not a religious family, the fact that we are all expected to spend loads of money of stuff, guilted into spending more money on stuff for other people, and generally do not always have the funds for such things, scrambling to scrounge up and roll more pennies for the oh holy holiday. Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE the holidays, the time we get to play, spend with the family and just generally lounge around doing whatever we want, but still its the expected pressures society puts on people especially our kids to have all the gadgets and trinkets, IPODS for 7 year olds that drives me loony.

One of the things I have avoided over the years, was the traditional gingerbread house, usually at a cost of $20 during the holiday season I have always just said no, knowing there would be plenty of money spent on chocolates, and treats, and even more arriving in the giftbags...do we need more candy?!!! Just after the New Year I had to run to town, yet again to refill another pet's food dish, and put some food in Loony Mama's cupboards. As usual I cruised by that clearance rack, only to find one of the best deals ever! A full gingerbread house kit on clearance for TWO DOLLARS! with the sign saying ..."freeze for next year"

Of course I skipped the freeze suggestion and arrived home to present the kit to the kiddies. Big smiles and excitement came next as they cleaned up the kitchen table ready to build their dream home made of cookies and candy! Now I will say, besides me being cheap, the nightmares have ran thru my head before, dreading the idea of dealing with the mess, the icing and potential for a full house collaspe, and the tears and cursing that go with it. But, now with fric and frac being 8&9...it was a project they could handle all by themselves!

Now lucky for me, a house has four sides, leaving all things even for Fric and Frac, able to create their little house with a front AND back door despite the directions that only came with a front door.

Ryki taking the back door, creating his own wreath with the fondent..

And Aspen making the front door all fancy... till she added the EAT ME to the mix?!

Our TWO DOLLAR gingerbread house... cheaper than a box of cookies, entertaining for the kids, and something to snack on for a few days... I started here....

Have you checked a clearance rack lately? !

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!

So about this Homeschooling Stuff

Its that time of year again when the sun shines that much brighter... when the birds are singing and there are so many other things to do besides sit at a table filling in the blanks. When our motivation leans towards calling it quits to another year of SCHOOL... at least the paperwork part of it anyways.

I have given up trying to count what year we are in... while I am sure the kids will say "I am in Grade Three/Two" I have never been one to name the Grades. We have accomplished our main goal this year... and that is to have both brats reading.. and they are!

I was asked on the weekend how things work with homeschooling by a local store clerk... as gradually in the small town people eventually clue in on why my kids are with me 24-7 and not in school. My answer was... however we want it to work!

I always try to resist the urge to spill the smart ass comments, and smile as I explain the basics.

1. No we do not have to spend from 9am-3pm sitting at the table filling in the blanks. When you are teaching two kids and not twenty the learning happens faster.

2. No we choose not to follow a curriculum... if I wanted that I would send them to school. The kids decide (this is where that unschooling thing comes in) If they want to do subtraction with borrowing ALL week long...so be it.. they can ... and they do. And reality says... these days ... you can pull anything off the Internet! Be it worksheets, lesson plans, or online learning games...its all there... available and free!

3. We DO have various rules ... like the Monday to Friday rule that says... you cannot Facebook until you have done your reading, and your expected 'learning on paper' So should they choose to not do their work... they do not get their facebook... and while I declare ... it must be done by 2pm... there are those days when they do not... when my patience to sit has wained, when Aspen will spend her time creating her art, painting, coloring, designing, and going through my paper like there is no tomorrow and when Ryki spends his day molding his clay, reading his comics, or just running around outside, stick in hand and adventures ahead. Around here ... THAT IS OK!

But most of all... we learn from everything around us. The fractions and measurements are learned when we are cooking, animals and classifications are learned when we are in the yard, or the window with our books identifying the little wildlife running around, and following their tracks, making our shopping lists for the week, searching for the best deals, while learning how much things really cost. And while we will bring the school year to an end earlier again this year.. I like to think the learning will continue, as we plan and plant the gardens, begin another fishing season, maintain and ride the wheeled toys, and master the watercrafts .... whatever we choose to build and create along the way, and of course... manage the farminals... Ryki current mission right now, to check on our chickens, checking for eggs, sneaking treats from my fridge and ensuring his birds R happy birds.

And of course... the number one question that people seem to ask, a true test of their own intelligence I have found... "DO YOU SOCIALIZE YOUR CHILDREN?"

I have to admit... this is my WTF moment in the question period on homeschooling. While I understand the question, the reasoning.. its the moment when asked that just makes me go hmmm. Like when I am sitting on the beach or in the park watching as my children play... not just with themselves, but with others, always quick to make new friends... this is when those mom's ask the stupid question... DO I SOCIALIZE MY CHILDREN? hmm... do you see them playing happily over there with stranger~friends? Are they walking around whacking kids cause they do not know how to play? Socialization can come in many forms, around here having two kids to bounce off each other ... it happens every day. Ryki gets bullied into doing what his big sister wants, Aspen learns the consequences when he flips her the bird and says NO WAY, we have made and maintained friends from all over, thru our travels and play, and YES I am proud to say... my children are more social than some teens (even adults?!) I know!

My Love will always complain when we get the 'report card' home from the Beach Boy.. the terms and classifications, the explanations of what he is learning... confusing to say the least giving you the moments of WTF? does THIS have to do with education? WTF? does that mean? While I am sure there should be names and classifications for the learning we do... I am also sure the learning is understood... retained in their little minds for future use and reference. Ryki .. my little book smart guy, quick to even overtake his sister's abilities to read, and multiply, and Aspen my little brainIac ...a creativity star... and I am sure the girl you wanna call if you need something built as she spends her time working side by side with her Dad in the shop, building this and helping out with that, often even giving him an idea that will work (BETTER) than his own.

LEARNING is part of our EVERY DAY!

During an early morning match of cribbage... learning the art of combos to 15, how to count your points to take the lead, and pegging your way thru math....

or learning to cut a circle of mirror from Dad, and the how to's of reflecting the sunlight to 'shoot' your sister in the eye, or finding the right angle to shoot Dad playing poker from across the room....

or mastering the art of mixing just the right amounts of Vaseline with that tube of fake blood ... just to play an April Fool's Day joke on Mom

or just plain old... enjoying the spring sunshine and a fresh crop of wild leaks, helping Mom and Dad clean'em up and get them ready for DINNER! Learning the art of cooking your own french toast for breaky... or mastering the techniques of dumpling making...YUM!

Education is all around us... it doesn't JUST have to come from a book!

Another Season for the Books Comes to the End

The sun is shining, the snow is melting and spring is just around the corner. For most, their favorite time of year, time to say goodbye to the winter blah's, the shovels, and the long cold nights of winter. For us, another season ends, time for us to say goodbye to our little cottage on the lake, and our peaceful sunsets with poles in hand, our season on the ice fishing is over for yet another year. It was another great season out on the ice, smiles and laughter, FISH and times with family and friends. We have yet to compare this year to last, our catches carefully recorded on the fish calendar, marking the days we ate, and the days we were skunked, happy I am to report...there are more days with fish than without. And a new trophy to add to the shelf for another winning catch by the Crew...third year running we brought home the prize!

A season that started early for a change with the ice being ready the first of January, and ended with a bang. Cold nights made for great ice this past week, the final days of the season. Also making for an easy removal of the shack... a blessing really after last year and the foot of slush on top to trek the truck and shack thru. Last week, with our last of the season visit with our favorite Uncles Fred and Bob, we ventured out to explore the big lake, the islands out from 'The Rock'. In summer, our favorite swimming hole, in winter...wow! Fric and Frac roaming the islands, exploring, and finding treasures, and walking about the frozen Lake, freedom to roam and play. Definitely beats sitting behind a desk in school all day!

And the view?! Forget fishing! I could spend all day snapping shots of this and that, wondering with my bff The Rebel, waiting for the sun to hit just the right spot, to sparkle and shine thru the ice, the tree's, my kids!... total Loony fun for this camera junkie!

So now its time, to put away the skates, bring the pots and pans home from the shack, and tuck away the ice fishing rods for the next season to begin. Collect the 'year round' fishing stuff, to be ready for May when the season of fishing begins again.

Ice Fishing Season 2009/2010 another successful year with the crew!

and a FINAL FUNNY

I rushed to the store last week for essentials, grabbing a tub of ice cream along the way. While dishing it out after dinner, Ryki asked..."what kind is it Mama" from the living room to the kitchen. "Its pecan, caramel swirl" I replied. Ryki came into the kitchen for his bowl, with that puzzled kinda look on his face, peering into the tub

"do they really put SQUIRREL in ice cream MOM??!!!"

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?

testing testing 123...

lets just see...can I get a picture here now??

wooohooo! that didn't take more than a minute...I LOVE this new fangdangled machine..the last one took at least an hour to do this....

this picture was discovered on My Love's camera...when we realized last night...the memory card dummies!!! load the pics thru that memory card!!! and while Daddy figured there was only a few pics...low and behold there seems to be quite a few pics like this...self portrait shots by Jane??!

so hell...lets see what happens when I try one more....hmmm...that one went straight to the top...my wee muscle man before his haircut...awww....

so whats next? do I dare try a video ...ya think it could be that easy??? first I would have to make one right? and being that my favorite lipstick is on its last application...it will just have to wait...

Yesterday was an eventful day around the Shoeless Acres...one with many smiles and giggles. Back into our classroom, as my office chores are completed (for now) and I can once again focus my attention on learning.... it started in the basement with our math..we have returned to the chalkboard for math studies because to be honest..it drives me batty all that paper going to waste. Our mission..learning how to carry numbers when adding 'the biggies' Now I have attempted teaching the kids this before without much luck or interest, but yesterday fric and frac impressed me with their willingness to try again..but even more that they mastered it within minutes!! Even with Aspen requesting more questions at the end of our session. The giggles arrived when Aspen learned a lesson about eating (garlic bread and cheese) and doing math (at the chalkboard) at the same time...watch what hand you grab a snack from...cause chalk just doesn't taste that good.

Hubby was done work early yesterday too! Leaving the afternoon and some time to work on our new bay window. Once again the WINDOW FAIRY has created a beautiful new window for me to sit and enjoy the view. Ryki tagging along side his Dad helping to bring in the wood, clean up the wreckage, and doing whatever Dad told him to do. They had a good giggle going back to the pond to retrieve an old tool box, strapping on the seatbelt Dad started to pull...dragging the sm. coffin size box back to the barn with Ryki hot on his trail behind. Now according to Dad ...Ryki was not watching where he was going...according to Ryki ...the guy in front should tell the guy in back when he is stopping. I guess when Dad stopped to pick up some stuff...Ryki kept walking..face planting himself into the toolbox, only to look up at Dad and say...."you couldn't just say I AM STOPPING???!!!!" I am happy to report there was no RYKI injured during the making of this giggle.

So its time to get on with things and get dirty this week...time to plant the seeds for our garden, the fruits of our summer labor. I really can't wait for summer now! for the warm weather and sunshine to spring our Acres back into shape, for the onset of company to start arriving, and the season at the Rock to begin again...ahhh summertime!

Me and My Loony Idea's

the first one..saying OUT LOUD that I was cleaning the kids room this week. Yesterday was the day I did NOT get it done. Yesterday was the day the kids went to watch a movie and I took a nap on the couch. Today is the day I will clean the kids room, right now is the time I am taking to avoid it, as I listen to the serenades of the Mofo husky at my window. No wonder I am not in the mood to enter the room from hell...I am on edge from listening to the damn dog. But still trying to remain calm when I request the idiot down the street retrieve him. 'on deaf ears" my love says, do not waste your energy.

Save my energy for bigger and better things. Another loony idea spoken outloud yesterday when the kids told me they were going outside to build a fort in the snow. 'what about an igloo?' I said...wth was I thinking! But I am proud to say they both smiled and asked "HOW!!" I handed them two of my plastic butter tubs, (w/o butter) and said, to do this you will need to build many bricks first...it takes a lot but if you build some each day it will be a good start. Off they went, bright orange tablecloth in toe, and their tubs and shovels to the yard to build bricks. Little teamwork action completing ten bricks before coming inside. So I really hope the snow will stay now, I really hope I can motivate my ass to go outside and get cold to help them build some bricks, and I really hope this theory in my head works...I can't remember if I read it, dreamed it , or what but this is it.... build bricks ...table cloth ($$store) will keep the bricks from freezing to the ground, the bricks will freeze harder over night like bricks (dream part/??) and build igloo~! Good Grief here goes nothing~!!!!

on a skewl front, this week it would seem we R past the morning ritual of board games, Ryki has brought out his train track, added a few dollhouses here and there, the little wooden trees on the sides and an hour or so is spent creating a community, complete with the evil dragon ... aka damn dog .... that attacks the village aka stealing stop signs, trees, and the odd bridge when no one is looking. The track is one of those wooden linking models....gotta be one of the best toys for kids to play with. I was lucky when Ryki was two and found a 'generic' type model for $60. not the cheapest...but FUN and lasting. I remember the days when it was me who had to build it each time, including the first time. Took me hours building it according to the picture on the box...I should have paid more attention cause it was two tracks, two separate pics put together! AUGH! But now the kids will pull it out, set it up , ramps, bridges, difference mazes every time! This Loony Mama's vote for the best toy for boys~! Just do not forget to buy the rubbertub to store it in.

final loony note to end it with a giggle...Like mother like daughter
I was just finishing up a happy hat last night on the couch, my love in bed, kids in bed, almost done. I heard Aspen give a little moan and watched as she got out of bed. She went up to the open bedroom door grasped it with one hand and started stroking it with the other. I remained silent, not to disturb the force around her, she was smiling from ear to ear. She looked 'at' me and I just waved, motioning her to come to me. She walked over with the biggest grin and whispered 'thank you Mommy, he really is the best horse ever!" she sat on the couch and cuddled next to me. I sat her up and said 'he is beautiful but its time to go back to sleep' Aspen stood up and held my hand as I walked her back to bed. she got right in laid down as I tucked her in. The whole time with the bright smile looking at me. I told her to close her eyes it was time to sleep. She did...and like a magic snap she was back to sleep. I was a walker and a talker as a child, now generally just the odd JUMP WTF GET THAT BUG AWAY FROM ME sort of talking, but its funny how now its Aspen doing it too.

wet paint

wet paint on the dogs, on my hands, on my hoodie...there is wet paint in the house and I am not only loving it! I am still breathing! Loony~background...as a child I literally had to move out of my parents house anytime they wanted to do Reno's, the carpet glue, the paint, the new stain on the dresser...you name it, my throat would close down, and I would pass out cold. The joys of my allergies as a child, where many a holiday were spent in the hospital with some sickness or other. A good month long stint as a baby with something as simple as croup! I am glad that my allergies have at least subsided a little in my thirty~something year...but even happier they are making paint with a less intrusive odor!

I am finding out...I LOVE PAINTING~! we have completed Reno's to the computer room, rubber duck yellow and healthy hosta green, and yesterday my love brought me a couple cans of Chivalry Copper. I finished up two of the walls with two good coats...its the self priming kinda paint. My love was shooting for a ralph lauren color, but reality set in at the paint store...we need durable, washable, and one coat easy....dogs, kids, life will still be on the walls despite the new colors. My love still looking funny at my loony factor painting....including the checkerboard ceiling and healthy hosta trim in the living room. "the more you paint the more our house turns into a set from Treehouse" he says...I say...
"you picked the colors my love, I am just the painter!"

loony notes of the day....

there was a shooting in my hometown yesterday, and according to my sister the hairdresser...one fatality. The location..right in the downtown core (d0wntown core being Main St. and Proton St....total streets in town...under twenty) They closed off traffic, and I heard even locked down the grocery store. Big news in a small town, I can't actually say I ever remember something like this happening. Normally the biggest news is neighbours swapping wives or something~! (and yes that HAS happened back in my home time...more than once)..population 2000

locally they are opening up the NorthBay Harvey's again today after a recent ecoli outbreak and one month ...lucky Mayor gets to be the first to eat a burger on the news for the RE opening..I am guessing the line up will be fierce (HA!)

Skewl'n..is going good, the kids are eager to do something when they are bored, they have a habit of starting their day with board game in the morning, if I am lucky it is Monopoly and NOT the simpsons Operation....nothing like waking up to Homer Simpson crying out in pain! But this week when I printed off their worksheets for math on Monday..they nearly completed them all in one sitting. They generally have 1-2 worksheets of math to be completed daily, and writing out their word lists. Ryki is surprising me with his phonics, picking them up quickly, and following in his sisters steps of wanting to 'spell' the words instead of 'reading' them. Aspen has discovered my old lunchbox with OLD sewing treasures, so she has just begun a new phase in clothing her brats....now instead of using my toilet paper and paper towel..she has begun to cut up old tshirts that 'Rstained' and sew clothes on herself!!! that is my favorite part of our UN~homeskewl'n adventures, when they just pick something up and go with it.

my farminals are thriving still, thinking they will not make it to December however..they are starting to waddle. I have had all the neighbours showing up with cash in hand staking claim to their birds for xmas...I send them and their cash packing though...I do not want the money here and there! I want to hit the jackpot at the end of our journey...I want to roll in the dough, and celebrate my profits (insert loony giggle...I barely make two bucks a bird..but add it up 6X$15. and man..I can have some fun!)

so back to painting, finishing up the room...I am going crazy waiting to see my BIG painting on the wall with the new colors. That was my only request to my love when he chose the colors (damn good color picker he is!) it has to match my painting.

Loony goals....to figure out how to post a picture or two here!

Loony Tips....

Lunchables (aka crap in a box) I can't stand the things really, on a healthy side of life...I consider them on the lowest end of eating. BUT there are times when they go on sale for a buck, and this loony mama will break down and buy TWO for each of my kids...Aspen, Ryki, and my love..who likes them too~! We have discovered..they make fantastic paint trays~! not only can you reuse the container, but if you do not fill them up with paint..you can stack the containers, place them in a ziplock, and save your paint for a later date with ART!

Proud Loony Moment...while we had to pass on attending the hunt back home this weekend, I am happy to report that my Ryki's name sake Jacob(age 16) took the honor for the THIRD YEAR in a row for bagging not only the first, but also the most deer during the hunt! Very proud of the young buck for wiping the floor with the old bucks once again with his hunting skills!!!!

FABULOUS!! its Friday!

a rainy Friday...but still....FRIDAY!!!
and I will say a much better morning than Thursday was! No thanks to my own habits of never saying no to a free bottle of Shiraz...lesson learned maybe, but I am guessing not.

This was our first week of school here @ the Shoeless Acres Academy and I have to say I couldn't be happier. My wee ones R like little sponges eager to learn and start the new year of school. We started this week with just the basics, some math, some spelling, and YES!!! Aspen is reading!!! still with lots of time for sounding the words out, and even more imagination at what the next word will be...but its reading! I suggested that she read one page a day for now, out of her beginners book... a Little Bear story, and Aspen decided that three pages would be a better start!! I LOVE it when they choose to do more!! Better yet, Ryki is showing a very keen interest in learning to read to! Now I do realize in some eyes Aspen should be reading by now, but this Loony teacher has not placed a large focus on reading in the past couple of years due to the fact...I have two to teach, and Ryki was not quite ready..or interested. My hopes have always been they would be learning together, and with any luck...this is our year!!! Next week we will start to get into other studies...geography, french, and whatever they choose they would like to learn about....Aspen is leaning towards a hamster project, and Ryki of course...wants BUGS! A successful start to our year I think, but as far as a schedule, or time .....that is on the list to, learning how to tell the time that is, the schedule is a whole other story. I would like to tell you we get up, and start school at 9am...but we don't! Usually the day starts with some random play, Ryki loving the play do right now, and me check'n my puter, and thru out the day we get our stuff done. ie/ last night it was Salmon and salad for dinner with our spelling on the side. Yup..I am not much good making a schedule!!

So some news around the Acres this week...... first the sad, it would seem we R a one cat household again. With my Squawker gone missing in May, there was a fatal meeting last Thursday between our MamaKat (who was seven) and Mofo the husky. And While she ran away from him after the fatal shake'n, she has not returned :( the Kitty drove me Batty but still I am missing her. On the good news...our super nanny Nishka turns eleven this month!!! Hard to believe the old girl and I have made it this far! Strange to think about all she has seen in her years, the circus years, the nanny years, all good years to hold on to....although I am sure my love would remember a few of the early years too. Nishka was a two yr old when we met...and what some might call a feisty little puppy! Many a daze we would find ourselves driving the MG around the beach as she chased...cause once she got on the loose...there was no stopping her till she wore herself out. Often we would take her and her big bro Kyus not for a walk, but a drive outside of town to the county forest just to let them run....not to mention the tourists tended to be the ones running when they saw those two on the lose. Kyus was at least twice the size of Nishka and averaged 180lbs...big dogs with those black and tan scares!!!

The bunkie has received some new reno's this week too! My love arriving home with a load of siding from work...FREE because it was sun faded, adding some final touches to the exterior. Note the free stuff is also Baby blue??? so my guess would be ...it will be changed when a new & better FREE color comes along.

and finally... a funny for Friday to cap off my blog. A story I have shared with some flickr friends, but a story at a week old...still makes me laugh.

WARNING THIS INVOLVES SOME CUSS'N

background...my brats cute and adorable also have a tendancy to swear. Not the bad kind of swearing...and only on the Acres is the general rule. You will hear Ryki in the creek shouting 'damn it the crawdad got away" or maybe a holy shit here and there, even now and then a big ass bug may come into our day. Our theory is... shit is shit, and damn it we don't mind. They never use them in a derogatory manner or to put down a person...so the hell with it, damnit ~ they swear.

Last Saturday I was hanging clothes on the line with Aspen beside me helping. Daisy was tied to the tree and I was griping because I was going to have to give her a flea bath. I then mentioned that I hoped the 'little bitch' would be good for me.' Aspen right away jumped up and said that I should not use that word to talk about Daisy, it is a bad word and not very nice at all. So I explained to my little woman that bitch is actually a real word and that it means .. a girl, or female dog. Without hesitation she looked at me and said... 'so than what are boy dogs then ? fucking losers' ????? needless to say...I nearly peed my pants laughing, and Aspen Jane does not think it is fair that girl dogs have to be bitches and boy dogs get to be studs! note: considering the sex-ed they have already got this year...I did not bother to go into the details of the definition of stud! Funny how little minds see things eh???

Time

Is there ever enough time in our day? Is it something we really need to find? or is it something that is really just part of our day, part of our life that flys by?

When I was a 'little one', time was something I was taught about by my mom. She is very organized when it comes to time, she taught me to respect it, follow it, and pay attention to it. Always making sure I knew if there was a time to be somewhere...arrive fifteen minutes early to "be on time", along with finding the time to make it on time. Schedules were set, lessons learned...my Mom is BIG ON TIME.

Now as a 'big person' I wonder how crazy it drives my Mom...cause really I have no use for time. I learned early on the trick about the fifteen minutes early? really means fifteen minutes of extra work when you show up 'on time' or fifteen minutes of more waiting, on top of the waiting for those appointments where others have lost time. I remember as a teen I loved watches...wearing them on my right arm..cause it was different for the time...wearing more than one, set to all times...I think at one time I even wore one on my ankle. Strangely even then, I do not have many memories of watching the time....wondering, exploring, and searching...until of course it was Mom's time..of being home..on time! I had a friend who was classified a genius in school...musically, artistically, academically, she was brilliant yet could not tell time?

with the upcoming season of our Shoeless Acres Academy about to begin, time is on my mind. with time comes a schedule, with schedules come organized ritual habits following the time, making our way thru our day. I have issues with time, and schedules...I am working to swing into gear...to schedule our day. But will confess now...this is gonna be a chore. The basics R easy, I know what must get done, but to wake to each day and follow a clock? I am not sure I can do it, not sure I want to, not sure if I am ready to change our free flowing ways of daze to be a slave to the tick tock of the clock.

Time is on my mind

Before I began my post today, I walked thru the house and wrote down the time, the time I see around the house....for those of you who are my flickr friends...this will explain the time on my photos...why you will see a photo of the sun, only to read the details and see the time...taken @ night???...I am a turn it on, hit ok, and go with the time its got kinda loon! no time for time kinda loon

My clocks today

Kitchen oven 8:29am
Kitchen clock 8:26
Bathroom Clock 1:29~possessed and never on time...but a sun that I love
Bedroom Clock 9:14am~cause my love likes time to be ahead to sleep longer???
fax machine 23:15 ~whatever the hell that means ... just before midnight I think
and my camera 08/18/08 12:20am ~note to self....remember to take the time to take the dam time and date stamp off the photos..drives me crazzee when I get a great shot with the time running thru it!!!

Today i suppose i should start to pay attention to the time, the brats R taking the time to make their own breakfast, I must find some time to do laundry, and avoid the time to clean the house !

time drives me nuts...I must change this attitude soon (maybe) the countdown begins... ten more days till we will organize our time, begin the Academy of learning on the Shoeless Acres...and oh ya...finalize the learning..how to tell time!
(note~considered starting school early this year..but considering the goonies called this morning at ...before 8amish...might as well wait til they return to school to...giving me more time!!)