Oh February. We were so glad to see it go. February was the month of the sick. And I swore up and down and sideways on March 1st, that we had seen the last of the sick.
And it was going so well, until the school name came up on my call display at work today at 11:30am. And now? One five year old, down for the count. Fever, sore tummy, sore everything.
Well crap.
We need SOMETHING here. A break would be a good start. We need fresh air and sunshine, and vegetables that haven't traveled 3000 kilometers to get here from California.
I'm throwing myself on the mercy of the universe, and letting it know that we can't take much more of this. The tractor is broken, the car has been stuck in the driveway for 2 days, the kid is sick again, and I? I am finished.
That is all.
Please send sunshine.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
February, kiss my ass.
Ugh. February. It's been the rotating month of sick. My turn, Corben's turn, Steve's turn, my turn (and then Corben's turn) again.
I'm so done.
However, March is mere days away. I'm expecting us all to be miraculously cured by March 1st at the latest.
You hear me, universe?? I've had enough of this crap! *Raises fist and shakes it at the sky.*
That is all.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Day of rest.
He lies beside me in the "big bed," restless. Displacing his father to the tiny little bed in the kids playroom, but Daddy is happy to move just so that our smallest can be closer to Mama. Boys need their Mama's when they're sick.
He's been feverish all day, coughing, snuggling, lying on the bed watching episode after episode of Diego, without so much as moving a muscle. His breaths are not the rhythmic deep breaths of a baby sleeping in peace. Every so often he let's out a cry, a moan, or a deep junky cough. Readjusts. Pushes his hand deeper down inside his shirt, a comfort measure he resorts to when he can't stick his hand down mine.
Upstairs, his brother stirs, and out of him tumbles the same junky cough, the one that makes me think that there's a good chance that there will be another missed day of work tomorrow, and maybe even a trip to town to see the doctor.
There are so many exciting things happening in life right now, that days like today, and likely tomorrow, are just as healing for me as they are for him...or them...we'll see. Beside me, Corben's feet reach down the bed; down, down, down, nearly kicking the dog if he tried. (The dog who has gladly stretched out to fill the spot that his masters legs and feet usually occupy.) He's so big, so tall all stretched out like this. And yet, when he cries for me as he wakes from a nap, or snuggles up in the chair to nurse first thing in the morning, those moments he still feels so wee to me. In those moments he's still my baby.
But he won't be for long.
So days of sick, and rest, and healing; days that remind you that the laundry can wait and the work can wait, and dinner can still be made with the baby in the sling, just like the olden days...days like these are good. And lovely. And feel right, despite the fact that he is sick.
And then he stirs again, crawling on top of me to snuggle, and making it damn near impossible to type, iPad or no.
And that's my cue. To rest.
(Linking up with Just Write.)
He's been feverish all day, coughing, snuggling, lying on the bed watching episode after episode of Diego, without so much as moving a muscle. His breaths are not the rhythmic deep breaths of a baby sleeping in peace. Every so often he let's out a cry, a moan, or a deep junky cough. Readjusts. Pushes his hand deeper down inside his shirt, a comfort measure he resorts to when he can't stick his hand down mine.
Upstairs, his brother stirs, and out of him tumbles the same junky cough, the one that makes me think that there's a good chance that there will be another missed day of work tomorrow, and maybe even a trip to town to see the doctor.
There are so many exciting things happening in life right now, that days like today, and likely tomorrow, are just as healing for me as they are for him...or them...we'll see. Beside me, Corben's feet reach down the bed; down, down, down, nearly kicking the dog if he tried. (The dog who has gladly stretched out to fill the spot that his masters legs and feet usually occupy.) He's so big, so tall all stretched out like this. And yet, when he cries for me as he wakes from a nap, or snuggles up in the chair to nurse first thing in the morning, those moments he still feels so wee to me. In those moments he's still my baby.
But he won't be for long.
So days of sick, and rest, and healing; days that remind you that the laundry can wait and the work can wait, and dinner can still be made with the baby in the sling, just like the olden days...days like these are good. And lovely. And feel right, despite the fact that he is sick.
And then he stirs again, crawling on top of me to snuggle, and making it damn near impossible to type, iPad or no.
And that's my cue. To rest.
(Linking up with Just Write.)
Warm welcome
I have to say, that just a few days into this adventure, I'm impressed. I'm impressed with the community that we're about to venture into, and become a part of.
I've been researching like mad, and come across quite a few folks in our area who have already gone down the same path. I've contacted two of them, and been invited into their homes without a second question, just like that. Virtual strangers, brought together by the desire for a simpler, greener way of life. I like that. That tribe that I've been missing? I think we might have just found it.
There's a good chance that this adventure is going to be overflowing with awesome.
I've been researching like mad, and come across quite a few folks in our area who have already gone down the same path. I've contacted two of them, and been invited into their homes without a second question, just like that. Virtual strangers, brought together by the desire for a simpler, greener way of life. I like that. That tribe that I've been missing? I think we might have just found it.
There's a good chance that this adventure is going to be overflowing with awesome.
Monday, February 06, 2012
The adventure begins!
Remember just before Christmas, when we found The Perfect Spot? (you can go back and read about it if you don't remember. Go on, I'll wait!)
Since then, we've talked about this spot a lot, just about every day I'd guess.
We've hummed and hawed. How? When? Is it really right? Is it really perfect? Can we really do this?
Today we went for a walk, to go and look at another spot. And then we came back to THE spot, and then we made a decision.
Yup, it is. Right. Perfect. And yes we can.
So we're going to do it. (I knew all along that we would, I needed to do a little bit of convincing though!)
A slight change from Plan A though - the site, being as treed as it is, isn't going to support the passive solar home that we've been dreaming about. Plan B is even better though, and speaks to my inner hippie like nothing ever has before:
Straw bale, dudes.
(Squeeeee!)
First step - we're going to do this. Summer "vacation" this year will be 7 days in a place I've always wanted to visit, building a straw bale home along with 25 (or so) other people, and soaking up as much information as we possibly can.
We've ordered some books. Tomorrow we'll put in for our vacation approval. Officially sign up for the workshop. And call the Real Estate agent.
Eeeks. We're terrified. And excited. And terrified. (But mostly excited.)
Stick around, this might get good! ;)
(I cracked this puppy open on New Years eve...how's that for awesomesauce!)
(P.S. We're on the hunt for an inexpensive camper trailer for our North Dakota adventure, if you know of someone looking to offload one! It's gotta be good, we might end up living in it for a while when we get back!!)
Since then, we've talked about this spot a lot, just about every day I'd guess.
We've hummed and hawed. How? When? Is it really right? Is it really perfect? Can we really do this?
Today we went for a walk, to go and look at another spot. And then we came back to THE spot, and then we made a decision.
Yup, it is. Right. Perfect. And yes we can.
So we're going to do it. (I knew all along that we would, I needed to do a little bit of convincing though!)
A slight change from Plan A though - the site, being as treed as it is, isn't going to support the passive solar home that we've been dreaming about. Plan B is even better though, and speaks to my inner hippie like nothing ever has before:
Straw bale, dudes.
(Squeeeee!)
First step - we're going to do this. Summer "vacation" this year will be 7 days in a place I've always wanted to visit, building a straw bale home along with 25 (or so) other people, and soaking up as much information as we possibly can.
We've ordered some books. Tomorrow we'll put in for our vacation approval. Officially sign up for the workshop. And call the Real Estate agent.
Eeeks. We're terrified. And excited. And terrified. (But mostly excited.)
Stick around, this might get good! ;)
(P.S. We're on the hunt for an inexpensive camper trailer for our North Dakota adventure, if you know of someone looking to offload one! It's gotta be good, we might end up living in it for a while when we get back!!)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Young love
Griffin came home from school the other day, and announced that he has a girlfriend.
Not only that, but they are in love.
And then he did a little dance in our back entry-way (never making it beyond there before he could blurt out his news,) and skipped around in a circle and sang "I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love!"
Its super cute, and super terrifying, all at the same time. I've done that very same dance, maybe even with the skip, and it's a beautiful thing. I've also done the dance of heartbreak, which is significantly less attractive, and involves far too much alcohol for a 5 year old. I can't bear the thought of him having his little wide-open heart broken, now, or 20 years from now.
Then again, there's no point in living in fear of something that might happen down the road. So for now, we celebrate - life, love, and all other things that make us smile.
Not only that, but they are in love.
And then he did a little dance in our back entry-way (never making it beyond there before he could blurt out his news,) and skipped around in a circle and sang "I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love!"
Its super cute, and super terrifying, all at the same time. I've done that very same dance, maybe even with the skip, and it's a beautiful thing. I've also done the dance of heartbreak, which is significantly less attractive, and involves far too much alcohol for a 5 year old. I can't bear the thought of him having his little wide-open heart broken, now, or 20 years from now.
Then again, there's no point in living in fear of something that might happen down the road. So for now, we celebrate - life, love, and all other things that make us smile.
Friday, January 27, 2012
This Moment
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A (single) photo - no words -
capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary
moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember, Inspired by Soulemama. (My photos are from New Years Eve, but when searching for a photo I came across these, and wanted them under the "pause, savor, remember" category.)
Monday, January 23, 2012
So the desire to post is strong, but the desire to be creative is weak. I have a sick little one, who collapsed on the couch in a heap after his playdate, and 60 minutes later was running a 102.5 degree fever. Poor monkey. And I have a two year old...a stereotypical two year old, fulfilling every cliche in the book these days. Hittypants McThrowy Spit. Yeah. I'm waiting to write his "Dear Corben you're two" letter till I like him a little bit more.
Instead of trying to write when it's just not in me, I leave you with these few gems from our fun yesterday.
(This photo? Slays me!)
But look, he's OK!
And for today, mes amis, that is all.
Instead of trying to write when it's just not in me, I leave you with these few gems from our fun yesterday.
And for today, mes amis, that is all.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Grrr
You know when you decide to be good and you decide to finally write a post for your blog and then you decide to click over to another tab in the middle of writing your post and then when you decide to click back everything that you had spent time writing and being clever about and pouring your soul out about (ok, not really, but I'm going for the drama) has dissapeared, and then you just get so mad and thrown up your arms and get all like "well that was all creative genius and shit, and I can't go pulling that kind of stuff out of my butt twice in a row to say the same darn thing, that was a one shot deal!" and stuff?
Yeah, that.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
A Year of Corben
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
My monkey turns TWO!
Today we celebrated Corben's 2nd birthday (even though his big day isn't until tomorrow.) A light affair, with a few special people (and only a few gifts) made for exactly the day I was hoping for.
I asked Griffin the other day, what sort of cake we should make for Corben. "Chocolate chip banana" he replied, "with a monkey on top." And there you have it. We skipped the chips, and went straight for chocolate banana, and I took my first foray into the world of fondant. OMGolly, I had so much fun! I followed an excellent tutorial, and this little guy was born. Having spent all my hours last night on the monkey, I ended up going a little light on the letters. Plus there really isn't a whole lot of room to get poetic atop a 6" cake!
Corben loved him!
We had a lovely crowd, including Daddy, who Skyped in from Ottawa (you can see him there at the head of the table!) Technology is a wonderful thing some times!
Corben spent much of dessert "feeding Daddy" cake. Daddy gobbled it up. Everyone laughed. Repeat!
A lengthy nap ensued, as did an early bed time!
And tomorrow? I have the day off of work, and I'm going to spend the whole day with this little dude, soaking up every second of him, and likely writing my annual sappy blog post about how much I love this little devil.
And I totally do!
And tomorrow? I have the day off of work, and I'm going to spend the whole day with this little dude, soaking up every second of him, and likely writing my annual sappy blog post about how much I love this little devil.
And I totally do!
Friday, January 06, 2012
Winds of Change
I've been a little reluctant to post lately, as I feel like there has been a big shift that has happened recently, and I've had difficulty putting it into words, and finding a voice for this "new me."
New me. It sounds corny, especially having just turned the corner into the New Year, but I don't really think that has much to do with it.
Something in me has shifted. I feel hopeful, full of positive energy, and like our dreams might be within reach.
Truth be told, I haven't felt much of any of that in the last few months, which is maybe why there was so little for me to say in this space. I'm all for telling it like it is, but day after day of my deepest darkest thoughts wouldn't have been any fun at all.
A few weeks before Christmas I had a meltdown, of massive proportions. Massive for me anyway. There were tears, heaving sobs; there was some yelly, and the phrase "I'm NOT happy" uttered over and over and over again. I don't know what I said that got me heard, but something tweaked in Steve's head as well, and since that night, things have taken a turn, for the better.
I've been thinking about it all a lot lately, and for me, it all comes down to choice. (Bear with me for a second here, while I try to put the tangle of thoughts and emotions that have been swirling around in my head, into a cohesive sentence.)
Here it is: Everything we do, every single day, is a choice. From getting out of bed, to going to work, to what we eat, and how we treat others, and how we treat ourselves - it's all a choice. There are, of course, some things in life that we can not control, but how we deal with them and how they affect our lives, that can still be a choice.
Had a shitty day? Well, your day may have indeed been shitty - you might have stubbed your toe getting out of bed, spilled coffee on your favourite shirt, backed your car into a fence pole pulling out of the driveway, and so on. Still, it's a choice to let it ruin the rest of your day, same as it's a choice to carry on and make the most out of every moment that's left of that day.
Feeling fat and flabby? But I chose to eat all that chocolate...now I just need to make the CHOICE to get on the damn elliptical and do something about it.
Feeling like you never get any time for yourself? I need to choose to take that time, find it, make it, whatever.
All these things that make us feel terrible, sad, and disappointed with our lives, they are all within our control.
So I guess that's the thing that tweaked in me - there is nothing in my life that I can't affect, change, better if I really want to.
And really, why wouldn't I want to?
The shift for me has taken me to a place that feels so much more true to who I am. I've been seeking inspiration, much of it on line, in homesteading blogs, simple living websites, and the like. I've been simplifying our family's life, one little bite at a time. Awesomesauce, every step of it.
I've also taken a new look at my "tribe," and where I draw my inspiration from in real life. I've been feeling a little lost lately, like I'm missing that Real Life Community that I so desperately need, or like I've just been sitting on the edge of one but not quite being allowed in. But then I realized that I'm not really seeking my tribe out from a group of like-minded people. Sure, for the most part they are often similar, but there are some fundamental differences in our lives that just can't be ignored. So I've been re-aligning my tribe, so to speak, shuffling the players. It feels good.
So all that to say...I don't really know what. To say, I guess, that things are good. That they are different, and that in itself is good.
And to say that things around here might be a little different from here on in. And that's OK too. At least, it's ok to me, and since this is my space, that's all that really matters for today.
I hope you'll stick around...it's gonna get good! ;)
(P.S. If you are still here, I'd love to hear from you...I'd love to know who's following us along in this crazy little journey!)
xoxox
New me. It sounds corny, especially having just turned the corner into the New Year, but I don't really think that has much to do with it.
Something in me has shifted. I feel hopeful, full of positive energy, and like our dreams might be within reach.
Truth be told, I haven't felt much of any of that in the last few months, which is maybe why there was so little for me to say in this space. I'm all for telling it like it is, but day after day of my deepest darkest thoughts wouldn't have been any fun at all.
A few weeks before Christmas I had a meltdown, of massive proportions. Massive for me anyway. There were tears, heaving sobs; there was some yelly, and the phrase "I'm NOT happy" uttered over and over and over again. I don't know what I said that got me heard, but something tweaked in Steve's head as well, and since that night, things have taken a turn, for the better.
I've been thinking about it all a lot lately, and for me, it all comes down to choice. (Bear with me for a second here, while I try to put the tangle of thoughts and emotions that have been swirling around in my head, into a cohesive sentence.)
Here it is: Everything we do, every single day, is a choice. From getting out of bed, to going to work, to what we eat, and how we treat others, and how we treat ourselves - it's all a choice. There are, of course, some things in life that we can not control, but how we deal with them and how they affect our lives, that can still be a choice.
Had a shitty day? Well, your day may have indeed been shitty - you might have stubbed your toe getting out of bed, spilled coffee on your favourite shirt, backed your car into a fence pole pulling out of the driveway, and so on. Still, it's a choice to let it ruin the rest of your day, same as it's a choice to carry on and make the most out of every moment that's left of that day.
Feeling fat and flabby? But I chose to eat all that chocolate...now I just need to make the CHOICE to get on the damn elliptical and do something about it.
Feeling like you never get any time for yourself? I need to choose to take that time, find it, make it, whatever.
All these things that make us feel terrible, sad, and disappointed with our lives, they are all within our control.
So I guess that's the thing that tweaked in me - there is nothing in my life that I can't affect, change, better if I really want to.
And really, why wouldn't I want to?
The shift for me has taken me to a place that feels so much more true to who I am. I've been seeking inspiration, much of it on line, in homesteading blogs, simple living websites, and the like. I've been simplifying our family's life, one little bite at a time. Awesomesauce, every step of it.
I've also taken a new look at my "tribe," and where I draw my inspiration from in real life. I've been feeling a little lost lately, like I'm missing that Real Life Community that I so desperately need, or like I've just been sitting on the edge of one but not quite being allowed in. But then I realized that I'm not really seeking my tribe out from a group of like-minded people. Sure, for the most part they are often similar, but there are some fundamental differences in our lives that just can't be ignored. So I've been re-aligning my tribe, so to speak, shuffling the players. It feels good.
So all that to say...I don't really know what. To say, I guess, that things are good. That they are different, and that in itself is good.
And to say that things around here might be a little different from here on in. And that's OK too. At least, it's ok to me, and since this is my space, that's all that really matters for today.
I hope you'll stick around...it's gonna get good! ;)
(P.S. If you are still here, I'd love to hear from you...I'd love to know who's following us along in this crazy little journey!)
xoxox
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Welcoming in the New Year
May your the New Year be everything you wish, hope, and choose it to be.
With Love, From the {Blue House on the}Roof
With Love, From the {Blue House on the}Roof
Friday, December 30, 2011
Frosty New Years
So it's December 30th, and we found out today that we'll be ringing in the new year with a busted furnace. And really, we'll likely be ringing in the first four or five days of the new year that way, since fixing a busted furnace 24 hours before New Years eve isn't on anyone's priority list.
Luckily, we have a snazzy little propane stove in our living room, plus a decent electric fireplace that we can move around the house. Oh, not to mention its not terribly cold outside. In fact, it's hovering around freezing rain temperature, which I hear that it's been doing all day.
Not that I would know, I haven't gone anywhere!
Griffin is camped out on the floor of our bedroom in his indoor tent, and couldn't be happier. Corben will crawl into bed with us when we head there, and the dog will keep all of our feet warm. So really, it's not all that bad.
Just think of all the money we're saving in propane!
A happy, healthy (and warm!) New Year to you, wherever you may be!
xoxox
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Bye-bye 'tuff*
Since discovering our dream property a week ago, and partially because we've been off work with little to do but sit around and talk and dream, there has been a lot of just that - talking and dreaming about what our future might hold.
And since we are opening ourselves up to the possibility that our dream come true might be just around the corner, we have been going about my days with a sense of purpose. We've been researching, educating ourselves, learning new things.
We (or more specifically, I) have also been saying goodbye to old things.
Yes, there is a massive purge in progress here, people.
I've been starting slow - cleaning - going through cupboards and closets. Every thing I pick up, I've been looking closely at.
I ask myself - When I move into my dream home, would I want to take this with me?
And if the answer is no? Sianora, stuff.
Because really, at the end of the day, if I don't want it in my dream home,why would I want it in this one? If it isn't serving a purpose, making my life better in some way, then why is it here? Now don't get me wrong...I'm not going totally bonkers crazy. Like the bed that we currently own will NOT be coming with me anywhere past these doors, but sleeping on the floor would suck (only slightly) more than my current mattress, so it gets to stay. For now.
It looks better in here already. There is a pile of stuff at the back door that will likely make someone, somewhere, very happy.
And I am making me very happy too.
And that? Is a good thing.
(* Imagine the post title coming from the cutest little two year old you've ever seen, in his sing song two year old voice, that likes to say bye-bye to just about everything in the room when he leaves it. Or everything in the car as he drives past it. It's one of the 239873 things that is adorable about Corben right now.)
And since we are opening ourselves up to the possibility that our dream come true might be just around the corner, we have been going about my days with a sense of purpose. We've been researching, educating ourselves, learning new things.
We (or more specifically, I) have also been saying goodbye to old things.
Yes, there is a massive purge in progress here, people.
I've been starting slow - cleaning - going through cupboards and closets. Every thing I pick up, I've been looking closely at.
I ask myself - When I move into my dream home, would I want to take this with me?
And if the answer is no? Sianora, stuff.
Because really, at the end of the day, if I don't want it in my dream home,why would I want it in this one? If it isn't serving a purpose, making my life better in some way, then why is it here? Now don't get me wrong...I'm not going totally bonkers crazy. Like the bed that we currently own will NOT be coming with me anywhere past these doors, but sleeping on the floor would suck (only slightly) more than my current mattress, so it gets to stay. For now.
It looks better in here already. There is a pile of stuff at the back door that will likely make someone, somewhere, very happy.
And I am making me very happy too.
And that? Is a good thing.
(* Imagine the post title coming from the cutest little two year old you've ever seen, in his sing song two year old voice, that likes to say bye-bye to just about everything in the room when he leaves it. Or everything in the car as he drives past it. It's one of the 239873 things that is adorable about Corben right now.)
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