Yesterday was a typical morning around the Acres, I got up, turned on the kettle went to the bathroom gently booting the cat out of the way, telling him to get his ass out of the water dish. Sitting down to see him still laying there, not getting up to purr, not greeting me, just laying there with his ass in the water. This isn't really uncommon for our MonNom...aka numbskull. He often fell asleep with something sticking in the water...often let you boot him across the floor and out of your way as he would stretch across the stairs...boobytrapping someone for a fall on the stairs..yes I kicked my cat yesterday...and then he did not get up.
I called My Love picking up the cat to hear him wince, and then vomit..just bile and then nothing. My love declaring it poison, my eyes filling with tears realizing..our beloved cat was dying on the bathroom floor.
Even worse...this was Aspen's cat, her best buddy, the cat she dressed as a doll lugging him through their day in a basket as he purred and cuddled no matter what she did. Sharing little tea parties as she snuck some milk for his cup, he was her Best Friend.
Now as a parent I am a firm believer in REAL LIFE. Not this raising my kids in a bubble without any reality based experiences. We do not hide our kids from real life, and let them be exposed to a great many things, teaching them along the way, how to handle things, but mostly letting them decide on their own how they would choose to react. Nothing could have prepared me for this, for telling my sweet little Jane that she would be facing the worse truth ever...Life doesn't always go on forever.
She knew, from my tears the truth, she knew that she would have to say good bye to her friend, and she knew that it would not end well. I gave her time and space, and explained how things were. We agreed to give our kitty some time, hoping the rest he needed to heal, hoping for a sign it was not all over, the end of the road. But it was, a couple hours later there were no signs of improvement, our precious friend seemed more stress, struggling to hold on. I explained to Jane who was hoping he would just let go, that we could take him next door. She was quite concerned that he could not die in our house, she did not want to remember him that way. She agreed it was time to let him go, to say goodbye. Shortly after Jane came to me with tears in her eyes, asking me not to call the neighbour to call Daddy , who was out on the ice prepping the shack. I looked into my little girls eyes as she seem to age years in front of me.
"mama I know Mon Nom is not just going to the neighbours, and I do not want him to take care of my cat. Can you please call Daddy, because I think I want Dad to be the one...the one to shoot my cat, its time to let MonNom be at peace"
I am crying again now, so proud, so sad, so mad...so impressed that even at a time when my little girls heart was breaking her wisdom of love shone thru, she took the time, the thought and the caring to see what was right, and when she was ready she let go and said goodbye.
we are not talking about it today, because 'the tears just do not want to stop' but we will be picking a special pic in our collection of our beloved MonNom, a part of our family lost...to life and its lessons...sometimes they really SUCK!
just wanted to shout out to all my online friends, who sent such kind words and thoughts when I shared our news...it means more than you will ever know, I could feel the cyber love and it really helped me make it thru the crappy day! xox
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
NEVER again...in 18mins
Ground Hog Day!!! and a prediction of 6more weeks of winter according to the famous Wiarton Willy. For some I am sure the nightmare that will never end. For us around the Acres here...good news of more fun in the snow and sun.
Another great weekend out on the ice here, good weather, fantastic ice for skating..it really is like glass looking down into deep black water right now after the afternoon sun warmed it back into shape. I managed to shovel some more space only to return Sunday to find over 6inches of snow blown back in...augh! And My Love learned a lesson about the brats..and their love for fishing. He mentioned the morning fish Saturday night and someting along the lines of sneaking out alone if the kids were still sleeping. It was 7am on the dot when we came up the stairs yesterday, to find both brats with skipants on, and boots ready..."we R ready Daddy and you R not sneaking out on us!" 18mins later we were driving down our road towards the lake. Pretty good I would say considering in those 18mins....the kids scarfed some toast, the hounds were released and brought back in, and the morning "movements' were all complete. One thing I do LOVE about fric and frac..very regular, everyday like clockwork...we'z a high fibre family here.
Out on the ice I notice my poor Love easily annoyed sometimes, and while I giggle, and he grumps it's a great family moment out on the ice at sunrise with the family singing ...ON THE DAY I WAS BORN>>>THEY ALL GATHERED ROUND>>>BAD TO THE BONE>>>YA WE R BAD TO THE BONE....yes I need to get some batteries for the radio ASAP. Maybe calming Aspen the whistling Jane in our group from her ear piercing whistles, or something else for Dad to think about besides the fact the kids R NOT SITTING STILL.
But NEVER AGAIN will I go to the lake with low batteries, the shots I missed the curse words that came from my mouth as the skies changed once again lighting up the sky like it was on fire. The moments in the shack as the storm hit the ice, barely seeing the skidoo just ten feet from the door, banging on the window to the outside reminding Ryki to stay close to the shack so I could still see him, as he played outside with his full bella~clava and goggles in place...he looks like a little snowman as his head becomes covered in snow and only the goggles peaking out. I managed to squeeze off a couple final shots as the sun set but not nearly the shots we saw!
So now, the puter will be turned off, and I will once again enter the room from hell...sorting thru the rubble of toys, laundry, creations...JUNK that fills the kids bedroom....as I once again spend my day cursing SWEARING NEVER again will the room get that bad...warning my kids to STAY AWAY while I try to organize it all back together, preparing and making room for our visitors tomorrow. Friends from the city who we haven't seen in almost two years....coming to the north for a visit...I hope they fish?!
Another great weekend out on the ice here, good weather, fantastic ice for skating..it really is like glass looking down into deep black water right now after the afternoon sun warmed it back into shape. I managed to shovel some more space only to return Sunday to find over 6inches of snow blown back in...augh! And My Love learned a lesson about the brats..and their love for fishing. He mentioned the morning fish Saturday night and someting along the lines of sneaking out alone if the kids were still sleeping. It was 7am on the dot when we came up the stairs yesterday, to find both brats with skipants on, and boots ready..."we R ready Daddy and you R not sneaking out on us!" 18mins later we were driving down our road towards the lake. Pretty good I would say considering in those 18mins....the kids scarfed some toast, the hounds were released and brought back in, and the morning "movements' were all complete. One thing I do LOVE about fric and frac..very regular, everyday like clockwork...we'z a high fibre family here.
Out on the ice I notice my poor Love easily annoyed sometimes, and while I giggle, and he grumps it's a great family moment out on the ice at sunrise with the family singing ...ON THE DAY I WAS BORN>>>THEY ALL GATHERED ROUND>>>BAD TO THE BONE>>>YA WE R BAD TO THE BONE....yes I need to get some batteries for the radio ASAP. Maybe calming Aspen the whistling Jane in our group from her ear piercing whistles, or something else for Dad to think about besides the fact the kids R NOT SITTING STILL.
But NEVER AGAIN will I go to the lake with low batteries, the shots I missed the curse words that came from my mouth as the skies changed once again lighting up the sky like it was on fire. The moments in the shack as the storm hit the ice, barely seeing the skidoo just ten feet from the door, banging on the window to the outside reminding Ryki to stay close to the shack so I could still see him, as he played outside with his full bella~clava and goggles in place...he looks like a little snowman as his head becomes covered in snow and only the goggles peaking out. I managed to squeeze off a couple final shots as the sun set but not nearly the shots we saw!
So now, the puter will be turned off, and I will once again enter the room from hell...sorting thru the rubble of toys, laundry, creations...JUNK that fills the kids bedroom....as I once again spend my day cursing SWEARING NEVER again will the room get that bad...warning my kids to STAY AWAY while I try to organize it all back together, preparing and making room for our visitors tomorrow. Friends from the city who we haven't seen in almost two years....coming to the north for a visit...I hope they fish?!
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Family Fish
The phone rang yesterday just after 3:30pm, it was My Love "R U GUYS READY? I AM ON MY WAY" that was the call, get your gear on, pack the snack bag we R hitting the ice. The kids rounding up their stuff, Aspen checking our minnow bucket for survivors and blowing a few extra bubbles in for good luck, and me filling the water bottles because you can't go ice fishing without some fresh water for tea. Its been a busy week for us getting out to the ice, but by now we R pro's at getting out there quick..in time for the dinner hour fish. We have had some issues thru the week keeping the minnows alive, they seem to croak over night without enough bubbles to breath. Yesterday Aspen and I managed to keep nine fish alive, only losing a few thru out the day, carefully making sure to 'add bubbles' every hour...kinda like remembering to baste the bird in the oven! With any luck the old aquarium brought home yesterday will do the trick, saving me from blowing air all day, and keeping our minnows alive.
So we made it out to the shack, fire started, holes freshened up and hooks in the water. Its really kinda cool to me how the holes in the shack do not freeze right over, less than an inch of ice on top that a small axe will take care of. Of course, within fifteen minutes, and a few minnows down because a certain fish slayer insists on dropping his line AGAIN AND AGAIN every thirty seconds (I have started to just give him the dead minnows now!) Aspen pipes up about skating...can we skate today mom? can I go out now. I really didn't feel like shovelling yesterday, knowing we had less than an hour left of daylight...I said 'not today honey, I don't feel like shovelling" So Aspen being Jane took it upon herself to grab the broom and take care of the ice herself, another fifteen minutes or so Fric and Frac were leaving the warmth of the shack to skate around their rink.
Inside the shack, I was enjoying the fire, watching Fric and Frac skate from the window. My Love checking on Aspen's line... a homemade Jane creation ~ wood nailed to the wall with enough line to reach the perfect spot at the bottom and a little tuck tape flag to let you know ..there's a bite. My Love found more than a bite on Jane's line..there was a fish ! he started pulling in the line as I grabbed my camera..noticing out of the corner of my eye..my line was bouncing too! I grabbed my rod, and gave her a yank...there's a fish there! Now the two of us hopping inside to pull in the fish..we hit the jackpot. Suddenly beside me Den's rod fell off the bench..OMG ! how many fish can we catch at one time. Dennis pulling up the fish from Jane's line, me still struggling to keep the fish on mine. Dennis shouts...THERE's ANOTHER FISH HERE? HOW MANY LINES DOES JANE HAVE DOWN???? reaching into the hole trying to get a grasp. By now all FOUR rods were bouncing!
Well it turns out...we DID have two fish on! One on Jane's line in the corner, one on my line in the opposite corner...BUT the damn fish must have swam together trying to escape, by the time the episode was over...ALL FOUR lines were tangled beneath the shack, and the ice...TOGETHER with one fish still trying to break free, and My Love reaching thru the hole trying to hold on. I was diving for the other rods, snapping the lines with my teeth trying to get the second fish.
We missed the second fish, but wrangled the first one to the surface. 17inches long and a beauty of a catch! But there we were~ prime time~ fish down below and not a hook in the water...they were all tangled together on the floor of the shack. We managed to get our hooks retied, minnows attached and back in the water, just in time for Fric and Frac to return from their skate...excited to be greeted at the door by the big fish.
WHO"S LINE CAUGHT IT ??? WHO"S FISH IS IT?? Of course its VERY important to declare who's fish it was, who gets to claim the biggie on their tally for the year. My Love explained what had happened, declaring the fish 'Aspen's catch' cause it was her hole it came from. The fish slayer disappointed realizing..this is the biggest fish caught to date, knocking his record down a notch, Aspen just proud that her homemade rod caught a fish, and me still giggling..how did the lines get so damn tangled? Then Aspen looking in deep though declared..."considering the fish was caught and tangled in ALL The lines, it shouldn't be just MY catch it should be the FAMILY CATCH, our family fish"
Now the lessons around the kitchen table following our fishing adventure were classic. Daddy carefully laying out the fish on the table (and newspaper) explaining to the kids just wear to cut, just what to do, the art of dressing our fish into fillets. Aspen gagging and saying 'that's gross' and Ryki declaring 'relax Jane this is just THE WAY OF THE FISHERMAN" (insert Ryki's DEEP voice here)
I am guessing we will not be around the house much this weekend, leaving for the ice, the shack and the fishing adventures tonight for dinner, returning for the day tomorrow...ahhh the weekend....you know where we will be right?!
So we made it out to the shack, fire started, holes freshened up and hooks in the water. Its really kinda cool to me how the holes in the shack do not freeze right over, less than an inch of ice on top that a small axe will take care of. Of course, within fifteen minutes, and a few minnows down because a certain fish slayer insists on dropping his line AGAIN AND AGAIN every thirty seconds (I have started to just give him the dead minnows now!) Aspen pipes up about skating...can we skate today mom? can I go out now. I really didn't feel like shovelling yesterday, knowing we had less than an hour left of daylight...I said 'not today honey, I don't feel like shovelling" So Aspen being Jane took it upon herself to grab the broom and take care of the ice herself, another fifteen minutes or so Fric and Frac were leaving the warmth of the shack to skate around their rink.
Inside the shack, I was enjoying the fire, watching Fric and Frac skate from the window. My Love checking on Aspen's line... a homemade Jane creation ~ wood nailed to the wall with enough line to reach the perfect spot at the bottom and a little tuck tape flag to let you know ..there's a bite. My Love found more than a bite on Jane's line..there was a fish ! he started pulling in the line as I grabbed my camera..noticing out of the corner of my eye..my line was bouncing too! I grabbed my rod, and gave her a yank...there's a fish there! Now the two of us hopping inside to pull in the fish..we hit the jackpot. Suddenly beside me Den's rod fell off the bench..OMG ! how many fish can we catch at one time. Dennis pulling up the fish from Jane's line, me still struggling to keep the fish on mine. Dennis shouts...THERE's ANOTHER FISH HERE? HOW MANY LINES DOES JANE HAVE DOWN???? reaching into the hole trying to get a grasp. By now all FOUR rods were bouncing!
Well it turns out...we DID have two fish on! One on Jane's line in the corner, one on my line in the opposite corner...BUT the damn fish must have swam together trying to escape, by the time the episode was over...ALL FOUR lines were tangled beneath the shack, and the ice...TOGETHER with one fish still trying to break free, and My Love reaching thru the hole trying to hold on. I was diving for the other rods, snapping the lines with my teeth trying to get the second fish.
We missed the second fish, but wrangled the first one to the surface. 17inches long and a beauty of a catch! But there we were~ prime time~ fish down below and not a hook in the water...they were all tangled together on the floor of the shack. We managed to get our hooks retied, minnows attached and back in the water, just in time for Fric and Frac to return from their skate...excited to be greeted at the door by the big fish.
WHO"S LINE CAUGHT IT ??? WHO"S FISH IS IT?? Of course its VERY important to declare who's fish it was, who gets to claim the biggie on their tally for the year. My Love explained what had happened, declaring the fish 'Aspen's catch' cause it was her hole it came from. The fish slayer disappointed realizing..this is the biggest fish caught to date, knocking his record down a notch, Aspen just proud that her homemade rod caught a fish, and me still giggling..how did the lines get so damn tangled? Then Aspen looking in deep though declared..."considering the fish was caught and tangled in ALL The lines, it shouldn't be just MY catch it should be the FAMILY CATCH, our family fish"
Now the lessons around the kitchen table following our fishing adventure were classic. Daddy carefully laying out the fish on the table (and newspaper) explaining to the kids just wear to cut, just what to do, the art of dressing our fish into fillets. Aspen gagging and saying 'that's gross' and Ryki declaring 'relax Jane this is just THE WAY OF THE FISHERMAN" (insert Ryki's DEEP voice here)
I am guessing we will not be around the house much this weekend, leaving for the ice, the shack and the fishing adventures tonight for dinner, returning for the day tomorrow...ahhh the weekend....you know where we will be right?!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Loony and Fam on Ice
You know last week after our first trips out to the ice, My Love suggested ~ planned ~ announced ~ proclaimed the old green ice shack behind the two feet of snow in the yard would be removed and relocated to the lake....our own ice shack complete with woodstove and four holes for fishing.
Wow! After two and a half daze out on the ice in our own shack! nothing could be better!!
Uncle Fred and Uncle Bob arrived on Sunday for a couple days of smiles and fishing. And following the harrowing tales of transporting our pimped out home on ice, there was some well deserved moments of excitement! Including my own, as I sat at my hole, cozy beside the fire, I realized jig'n my line...there was a fish down that hole! attached to my hook! Loony surrounded by the experts, the MEN WHO FISH! Silently, steady and calm I pulled in my line (note..Loony is almost NEVER silent!) waiting for the moment to scream. HIS head came thru the hole, above the ice.."I GOT A FISH" I laughed.."its a BIGGIE!" Then...SPLASH, SNAP, GONE! My line on my Scooby Do Reel broke, My Love diving for the hole, reaching, grabbing, nothing! My big catch gone! A Loony story to tell about the one that got away. OR as Ryki explained EVERYTIME I reflected..."there is no point in getting excited Mama..you didn't actually catch anything!" Figures those words spoken from our family 'fish slayer', the champ so far with two winning catches, the wee man giving me giggles all day each time the ice shack door opens, like many fisherMEN before him he spins tales of the big fish that 'just' got away on him!
I am a lucky Mama with two little fisherpeople who enjoy it sooo much, who will sit out on the ice in their little chairs for hours, jigging their lines, baiting their hooks, running for a fresh minnow declaring WAR on the fish that got away. Aspen sitting with Uncle Bob, sharing stories, some venison pepperettes and smiles...screaming with joy as Bob left his pole for a moment.."UNCLE BOB your line was just a hopping...I tried I jigged and still the bastard got away" Our last day on the ice starting at 7:30am as the sun came up, with a quick run home for lunch and back out again for the afternoon, and dinner fish, returning home after dark some twelve hours later.
I can't say we brought in a huge catch, but there were bites, fish caught and fish that got away...fun and morning chai cooked on the woodstove to warm up after an afternoon skate in the sunshine. I managed to get our little rink on the lake finished this week too. With no help from the men I will add~! What I started last Friday still there, under a layer of hard snow only an inch deep...I started to shovel, scraping down to the shiny black ice beneath. The men at the time, observing from the shack, giving out advice...'that will take you weeks you know' "if you used a different shovel it would go faster" "have you thought about shovelling a differnt way" HOW many ways is there to really shovel? and if you are soooo concerned about my techniques..feel free to pick up a scoop and get to it! I DID IT! I got the job done, and I sat and smiled watching my fric and frac skating around in their merry little ways. My Uncle Bob proclaiming me 'the best mom ever' for doing that for my kids...with my confession of the truth...'good mama sure! selfish mama for looking for an hour of peace on the ice to fish while they occupy themselves with their skates...FOR SURE!' I have to give Aspen kudos for her effort, going round and round, falling, crashing, even tears in her little eyes, she gets up every time, starting again, practicing to be better, determined to master the art of skating! While I sit and jig my line again, determined to tell a tale of the 'big fish Loony caught!'
Wow! After two and a half daze out on the ice in our own shack! nothing could be better!!
Uncle Fred and Uncle Bob arrived on Sunday for a couple days of smiles and fishing. And following the harrowing tales of transporting our pimped out home on ice, there was some well deserved moments of excitement! Including my own, as I sat at my hole, cozy beside the fire, I realized jig'n my line...there was a fish down that hole! attached to my hook! Loony surrounded by the experts, the MEN WHO FISH! Silently, steady and calm I pulled in my line (note..Loony is almost NEVER silent!) waiting for the moment to scream. HIS head came thru the hole, above the ice.."I GOT A FISH" I laughed.."its a BIGGIE!" Then...SPLASH, SNAP, GONE! My line on my Scooby Do Reel broke, My Love diving for the hole, reaching, grabbing, nothing! My big catch gone! A Loony story to tell about the one that got away. OR as Ryki explained EVERYTIME I reflected..."there is no point in getting excited Mama..you didn't actually catch anything!" Figures those words spoken from our family 'fish slayer', the champ so far with two winning catches, the wee man giving me giggles all day each time the ice shack door opens, like many fisherMEN before him he spins tales of the big fish that 'just' got away on him!
I am a lucky Mama with two little fisherpeople who enjoy it sooo much, who will sit out on the ice in their little chairs for hours, jigging their lines, baiting their hooks, running for a fresh minnow declaring WAR on the fish that got away. Aspen sitting with Uncle Bob, sharing stories, some venison pepperettes and smiles...screaming with joy as Bob left his pole for a moment.."UNCLE BOB your line was just a hopping...I tried I jigged and still the bastard got away" Our last day on the ice starting at 7:30am as the sun came up, with a quick run home for lunch and back out again for the afternoon, and dinner fish, returning home after dark some twelve hours later.
I can't say we brought in a huge catch, but there were bites, fish caught and fish that got away...fun and morning chai cooked on the woodstove to warm up after an afternoon skate in the sunshine. I managed to get our little rink on the lake finished this week too. With no help from the men I will add~! What I started last Friday still there, under a layer of hard snow only an inch deep...I started to shovel, scraping down to the shiny black ice beneath. The men at the time, observing from the shack, giving out advice...'that will take you weeks you know' "if you used a different shovel it would go faster" "have you thought about shovelling a differnt way" HOW many ways is there to really shovel? and if you are soooo concerned about my techniques..feel free to pick up a scoop and get to it! I DID IT! I got the job done, and I sat and smiled watching my fric and frac skating around in their merry little ways. My Uncle Bob proclaiming me 'the best mom ever' for doing that for my kids...with my confession of the truth...'good mama sure! selfish mama for looking for an hour of peace on the ice to fish while they occupy themselves with their skates...FOR SURE!' I have to give Aspen kudos for her effort, going round and round, falling, crashing, even tears in her little eyes, she gets up every time, starting again, practicing to be better, determined to master the art of skating! While I sit and jig my line again, determined to tell a tale of the 'big fish Loony caught!'
Saturday, January 24, 2009
without my morning chai!!! augh!
Saturday morning, 9am the sun is shining, the skies are blue and I just put TWO pieces of wood in the stove...its minus THIRTY FIVE again today...holy crap!
We started our season of ice fishing this week, man I have missed it! Out in the middle of a frozen lake, a bag full of snack, a bag full of minnows, some holes and smiles! But still close enough when Aspen turns and says...'I need to do a two Mama'...we can jump on the sled and take a quick ride to 'g''s house for a real toilet. Ryki our champion fisherman caught the first fish of the year, a little northern pike, very proud to claim FIRST FISH of the year. Waving it widely in the air as 'g' came across the lake. Stop waving the fish Ryki..he can't see you yet! I started to shovell an ice rink out by the shack, the ice this year perfect and smooth and jet black underneath a foot of powder snow. I stopped shovelling when 'g' announced he can 'just bring out his snoblower' alrighty then! Soon to come ..ice rink too! Occupying the little buggers at times when 'we R bored' and Mama and Daddeo still want to fish.
Also ... maybe ... soon to come....our own shack!! My Love and his ambitious plans are determined to get an old shack we have here out to the lake. The shack, double the size of the one we use now, ready for a wood stove, benches on either side, and room for a table and some cards (maybe some cribbage along the way) 'necessary' with this crazy FREEZING weather we R having he says, room for all to be comfy. The ambitious part comes in when you factor in
1. there was a reason the old guy isn't using it anymore
2. its missing the skiis on the bottom..being rebuilt today ..if he can stand the cold
3. if you take the bigass shack out ONTO the ice...you still have to bring it OFF the ice too
4. my loony best guestimate of how far he must travel with the shack tied with seatbelt to his truck....two blocks down our road, around a corner, down a hill, and around two more corners, til he gets to a friends, dragging it thru his yard and onto the ice. Now in theory, if you can make it to the ice..you R laughing..you can move the thing anywhere..when you want...especially now that the 'lake roads' are all in place...following the ice highway to your dream spot. But the bigass shack doesn't really come with steering either???
But should this comfort zone in green make it out to the lake...I will hug and kiss My Love, giggle that he did it! and be thankful as I sit in our warm and cozy ice shack watching as the children skate thru the window under the sunset. I once again busted myself yesterday thru my twitter..it updates my facebook, and yes sometimes I find humor in giggling at My Love. He uses my facebook for poker...double the fun?! but also gives him the chance to read my afternoon thoughts...apparently "I am just mean!"
Now I sit and wait to see the men jack up the shack and build the new skies. Perhaps its the recent pics on flickr I caught..reminding me of the wizard, the little shack crashed to the ground with the feet squiggling underneath and those elusive ruby slippers. They got a good start on it yesterday, I asked Aspen as she came in the house.."how R they making out Jane? did they get it out of the snow yet?"
"well" Jane said "IF you mean making out good in the sense of its out of the snow...then yes. BUT if you mean bad in the sense that they got the shack stuck on 'g"s feet?? than NO"
"oh" I said "is 'g' ok?"
'well...he did a little TIPPY DANCE and said Damn that hurts the toes..but they are back at it again and 'g' if not stuck anymore"
(insert smartass smirk running away and giggling here)
so I suppose looking out the window today may be a good idea every now and then!
now I have to go and make a green tea...because we R outta milk this morning...fingers crossed My Love Remembers the milk...I like green tea..but not when I haven't had a second cup of chai yet! Not when its Saturday morning minus thirty five and I just want my warm soothing cup of Morning Chai!
We started our season of ice fishing this week, man I have missed it! Out in the middle of a frozen lake, a bag full of snack, a bag full of minnows, some holes and smiles! But still close enough when Aspen turns and says...'I need to do a two Mama'...we can jump on the sled and take a quick ride to 'g''s house for a real toilet. Ryki our champion fisherman caught the first fish of the year, a little northern pike, very proud to claim FIRST FISH of the year. Waving it widely in the air as 'g' came across the lake. Stop waving the fish Ryki..he can't see you yet! I started to shovell an ice rink out by the shack, the ice this year perfect and smooth and jet black underneath a foot of powder snow. I stopped shovelling when 'g' announced he can 'just bring out his snoblower' alrighty then! Soon to come ..ice rink too! Occupying the little buggers at times when 'we R bored' and Mama and Daddeo still want to fish.
Also ... maybe ... soon to come....our own shack!! My Love and his ambitious plans are determined to get an old shack we have here out to the lake. The shack, double the size of the one we use now, ready for a wood stove, benches on either side, and room for a table and some cards (maybe some cribbage along the way) 'necessary' with this crazy FREEZING weather we R having he says, room for all to be comfy. The ambitious part comes in when you factor in
1. there was a reason the old guy isn't using it anymore
2. its missing the skiis on the bottom..being rebuilt today ..if he can stand the cold
3. if you take the bigass shack out ONTO the ice...you still have to bring it OFF the ice too
4. my loony best guestimate of how far he must travel with the shack tied with seatbelt to his truck....two blocks down our road, around a corner, down a hill, and around two more corners, til he gets to a friends, dragging it thru his yard and onto the ice. Now in theory, if you can make it to the ice..you R laughing..you can move the thing anywhere..when you want...especially now that the 'lake roads' are all in place...following the ice highway to your dream spot. But the bigass shack doesn't really come with steering either???
But should this comfort zone in green make it out to the lake...I will hug and kiss My Love, giggle that he did it! and be thankful as I sit in our warm and cozy ice shack watching as the children skate thru the window under the sunset. I once again busted myself yesterday thru my twitter..it updates my facebook, and yes sometimes I find humor in giggling at My Love. He uses my facebook for poker...double the fun?! but also gives him the chance to read my afternoon thoughts...apparently "I am just mean!"
Now I sit and wait to see the men jack up the shack and build the new skies. Perhaps its the recent pics on flickr I caught..reminding me of the wizard, the little shack crashed to the ground with the feet squiggling underneath and those elusive ruby slippers. They got a good start on it yesterday, I asked Aspen as she came in the house.."how R they making out Jane? did they get it out of the snow yet?"
"well" Jane said "IF you mean making out good in the sense of its out of the snow...then yes. BUT if you mean bad in the sense that they got the shack stuck on 'g"s feet?? than NO"
"oh" I said "is 'g' ok?"
'well...he did a little TIPPY DANCE and said Damn that hurts the toes..but they are back at it again and 'g' if not stuck anymore"
(insert smartass smirk running away and giggling here)
so I suppose looking out the window today may be a good idea every now and then!
now I have to go and make a green tea...because we R outta milk this morning...fingers crossed My Love Remembers the milk...I like green tea..but not when I haven't had a second cup of chai yet! Not when its Saturday morning minus thirty five and I just want my warm soothing cup of Morning Chai!
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Tooth, The Damn Dog, The Twoonie and The Tink
Yesterday was an exciting day for my wee little man with barely any teeth. He lost another tooth, a top corner now missing along with the top two..yup mowing a piece of corn right now could be really tricky. But he smiled proudly showing off his tooth, keeping it close, ready for the win fall under the pillow. And this Mama was ready knowing there was a twoonie (cannuck $2coin) in my jacket.
A couple hours later, sitting with afternoon cartoons at his little table, pringles for snacking and juice jammer in hand I heard the 'Ryki Cry" the .."I am not in pain but my heart is broken cry". Turns out Ryki had got up from his chair leaving his small stack of pringles and his tooth on the table, and being the DAMN DOG in our lives Daisy took the opportunity to scarf back the pringles. Problem here being...she ate the TOOTH too! Crocodile tears and moaning, not for the tooth of course..but the money! "how will the tooth fairy know" my suggestion..."just write her a letter, I am sure she will understand"
Now for those who have read my previous tooth fairy stories, it shouldn't be surprising that I of course FORGOT the damn twoonie under the pillow, and was greeted with the early morning MOANS again of "MOM..we didn't write the letter! I didn't get my money!" well no..I forgot the damn letter because I was so tuckered last night I went to bed before nine and didn't wake up again till 6:30am...to the pitter patter of little feet on the floor above me!
So this Mama's solution this morning was to skip the damn fairy and go straight to the heart of the matter..the money! I asked Ryki if it would make him feel better if I just paid him for the tooth, handing him the twoonie from my pocket. The tears evaporated and the smiles returned, now my wee Ryki proudly showing off his new twoonie. I reminded him he should run and go pee cause Dad would be getting up and need the bathroom and off he ran.
I turned to the sink and my kettle, it was time for my morning chai and My Love's caffeine fix for the morning. I could hear Ryki in the bathroom, tinkle tinkle tinkle TINK! Ya I knew damn well what that tink was, I knew what was coming next..once again the "Ryki cry", I found him in the bathroom, holding back his tears, pointing to the freshly peed in toilet "Mama I dropped my twoonie"
Hope this is not a sign of whats to come this week, starting my Monday morning with an early morning dip into the toilet, rescuing a twoonie and the heart of my little man...I am glad I know pee is sterile..but damn! before 7am its still a little much!!!!
A couple hours later, sitting with afternoon cartoons at his little table, pringles for snacking and juice jammer in hand I heard the 'Ryki Cry" the .."I am not in pain but my heart is broken cry". Turns out Ryki had got up from his chair leaving his small stack of pringles and his tooth on the table, and being the DAMN DOG in our lives Daisy took the opportunity to scarf back the pringles. Problem here being...she ate the TOOTH too! Crocodile tears and moaning, not for the tooth of course..but the money! "how will the tooth fairy know" my suggestion..."just write her a letter, I am sure she will understand"
Now for those who have read my previous tooth fairy stories, it shouldn't be surprising that I of course FORGOT the damn twoonie under the pillow, and was greeted with the early morning MOANS again of "MOM..we didn't write the letter! I didn't get my money!" well no..I forgot the damn letter because I was so tuckered last night I went to bed before nine and didn't wake up again till 6:30am...to the pitter patter of little feet on the floor above me!
So this Mama's solution this morning was to skip the damn fairy and go straight to the heart of the matter..the money! I asked Ryki if it would make him feel better if I just paid him for the tooth, handing him the twoonie from my pocket. The tears evaporated and the smiles returned, now my wee Ryki proudly showing off his new twoonie. I reminded him he should run and go pee cause Dad would be getting up and need the bathroom and off he ran.
I turned to the sink and my kettle, it was time for my morning chai and My Love's caffeine fix for the morning. I could hear Ryki in the bathroom, tinkle tinkle tinkle TINK! Ya I knew damn well what that tink was, I knew what was coming next..once again the "Ryki cry", I found him in the bathroom, holding back his tears, pointing to the freshly peed in toilet "Mama I dropped my twoonie"
Hope this is not a sign of whats to come this week, starting my Monday morning with an early morning dip into the toilet, rescuing a twoonie and the heart of my little man...I am glad I know pee is sterile..but damn! before 7am its still a little much!!!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Fucking Freezing Friday
well its yet another day around here where you wake up nose cold, boots on as you drag your ass outta bed and look outside to see the temps...minus FORTY! HOLY CRAP when will it end?????? They say now it will all be over tomorrow, the temps rising to a balmy minus twelve. All I can say is its about flip'n time! I can't handle looking outside to see the clear blue skies, the sun shining brightly, only to notice every window in the house has about two solid inches of ice on the bottom INSIDE~!
We broke our cheapskate ways this morning turning on the baseboard heater in the living to break the chill....followed by fifteen minutes of solid sneezing as the dust burned off. Nothing better than snotting all over yourself and your morning chai.
Its been a busy week around the Acres though, with the below normal temps and my window diva unable to work we continue our attempt to leave the nicotine behind. Keeping busy with a few cans of paint, rearranging my once twelve cupboards into four, and bust'n apart the kitchen as we knew it. The end result is pretty fab I must say. With credits going to my love for choosing another great color once again. It comes in handy I think he spends his days in other peoples homes, seeing the latest styles, cause honestly I would not have a clue where to start...besides the yellow in the computer room. I couldn't tell you the colors this season any more than I could tell you the name in my last blog of that broad on the view. I know her name now, and I know she seems to fit in the twat category..but will not correct myself..as I donot see the need to give her any more credit, or acknowledgement. But a few daze later, I will say we are a pretty good team, with little dispute getting the job done. I only had to ask My Love once if his bum was hurting...that was right after he asked why I always stir the paint with the stick upside down?? It a wooden stick does it REALLY MATTER?
Yesterday while sitting at our newly located extended kitchen table, the brats and I were ready for another exciting round of Rummy-O and our morning cup of chocolate chai. Confession time...we were given this game two xmas' ago....we have only recently started playing...I posted a pic on my flickr page and was surprised at the number of responses. While we were regular players of Rummy when I was a child..I have not previously heard of the game Rummy-O before. Our first time playing was during a holiday visit with the beach boy home and my mom. I did not actually play just helped the little ones, following my mom's directions, baffled by how the hell you were to play or start the game. As a result...and after reading the instructions yesterday for the 100th time I have come to the conclusion...we do not know how to play Rummy-o. In fact I think the version we play could safely be called...Shoeless-O-Rummy. I think we have the basics, laying the 'melds' down, the winner disposing of all their tiles first, but basically we have our own version..ie/ we can swap our 'melds' around to make new ones ...rules stating otherwise. Maybe one day I will chat with one of the experts..get the run down on how to actually play the game, for now the shoeless style seems to be working...I am winning anyways!
During the game I happened upon a funny giggle. When Aspen asked me why I had not yet played my tiles. I responded that I was trying something new..."playing strategically" then I asked them both "do you know what 'strategic' means?" The giggle happened over the next several minutes as the kids attempted to SAY the word STRATEGIC. It involved writing it down, both correctly and phonically. Taking turns breaking the word apart...various combos being shot out of their little mouths...STRAW-cheese it... Chageezedick...Straaazickamic....Cha-SQUEAKY CHEESE- it By the time Aspen finally figured it out....I couldn't say Strategic anymore!!!
So our word and giggle of the day...was strategic! try handing that one to a little person you know and see what comes out!
So another weekend ahead..hopefully one with some tolerable temps, and some fun in the sun!
We broke our cheapskate ways this morning turning on the baseboard heater in the living to break the chill....followed by fifteen minutes of solid sneezing as the dust burned off. Nothing better than snotting all over yourself and your morning chai.
Its been a busy week around the Acres though, with the below normal temps and my window diva unable to work we continue our attempt to leave the nicotine behind. Keeping busy with a few cans of paint, rearranging my once twelve cupboards into four, and bust'n apart the kitchen as we knew it. The end result is pretty fab I must say. With credits going to my love for choosing another great color once again. It comes in handy I think he spends his days in other peoples homes, seeing the latest styles, cause honestly I would not have a clue where to start...besides the yellow in the computer room. I couldn't tell you the colors this season any more than I could tell you the name in my last blog of that broad on the view. I know her name now, and I know she seems to fit in the twat category..but will not correct myself..as I donot see the need to give her any more credit, or acknowledgement. But a few daze later, I will say we are a pretty good team, with little dispute getting the job done. I only had to ask My Love once if his bum was hurting...that was right after he asked why I always stir the paint with the stick upside down?? It a wooden stick does it REALLY MATTER?
Yesterday while sitting at our newly located extended kitchen table, the brats and I were ready for another exciting round of Rummy-O and our morning cup of chocolate chai. Confession time...we were given this game two xmas' ago....we have only recently started playing...I posted a pic on my flickr page and was surprised at the number of responses. While we were regular players of Rummy when I was a child..I have not previously heard of the game Rummy-O before. Our first time playing was during a holiday visit with the beach boy home and my mom. I did not actually play just helped the little ones, following my mom's directions, baffled by how the hell you were to play or start the game. As a result...and after reading the instructions yesterday for the 100th time I have come to the conclusion...we do not know how to play Rummy-o. In fact I think the version we play could safely be called...Shoeless-O-Rummy. I think we have the basics, laying the 'melds' down, the winner disposing of all their tiles first, but basically we have our own version..ie/ we can swap our 'melds' around to make new ones ...rules stating otherwise. Maybe one day I will chat with one of the experts..get the run down on how to actually play the game, for now the shoeless style seems to be working...I am winning anyways!
During the game I happened upon a funny giggle. When Aspen asked me why I had not yet played my tiles. I responded that I was trying something new..."playing strategically" then I asked them both "do you know what 'strategic' means?" The giggle happened over the next several minutes as the kids attempted to SAY the word STRATEGIC. It involved writing it down, both correctly and phonically. Taking turns breaking the word apart...various combos being shot out of their little mouths...STRAW-cheese it... Chageezedick...Straaazickamic....Cha-SQUEAKY CHEESE- it By the time Aspen finally figured it out....I couldn't say Strategic anymore!!!
So our word and giggle of the day...was strategic! try handing that one to a little person you know and see what comes out!
So another weekend ahead..hopefully one with some tolerable temps, and some fun in the sun!
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