My Sweet Friends

I haven't gotten a blog award in a while (that might have to do with the fact that I am so inconsistent these days in writing that I don't know that I have any readers left) but it can be a fun thing to do. I got an award from a friend today - what a nice way to wake up in the morning. It's my turn to share about some bloggers I love to read:

Here are the rules:

1. Copy the award image into a post.
2. List 10 things that make you happy.
3. Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day.
4. Put in a link to their blogs.
5. Notify the award receivers.
6. Recipients should link back to the sender’s blog.

10 Things That Make Me Happy (in no particular order…):

My faith

Being married to my best friend

my two pieces of my heart, my almost four year old daughter Pk and my one year old son, Baby Bean

My dogs and my cat (I know I shouldn't play favourites but especially my girl, Chelsea)

Living in our small town (I feel like I belong in a way that I never felt in the city - not the city's fault, mine)

cooking and sharing food with others

crafting, especially knitting and card-making and the friends who go with it

celebrating the seasons and holidays

a good book

a pot of really nice tea (at the moment, Marks and Spencer Extra Strong is my favourite, followed by Fortnam and Mason's in the gray box)

And an extra, since I tend to ramble anyway, the success I am feeling with my running

10 Bloggers Who Brighten My Day (in no particular order…):

Bloggers I know personally (and love!):

Sarah (who gave me the award): Sarah is someone I met a few years ago and knew right away that I could be friends with. She is smart, sassy and wise beyond her years. She seems to have the secret of being content with what she has, making the most of every day and loving her family with her whole being. Reading her blog makes me smile every time. To top it off, I don't know whether she remembers this, but she was the one who introduced our family to Veggietales and who started a love affair for Pk. We were up at a church function and she was running the nursery. She put in Daniel, Pk fell in love and the rest was history.

Kittenpie - my oldest, dearest friend and another wise woman in my life. Her life has kept her awfully busy and the blogging has dropped off on her personal blog but she has an "in" on children's lit and has a brilliant blog sharing books with all those of us who love to read with our children and our classes. I get so many ideas from her! She is definitely worth tracking if you read to children at all.

Lora - Lora and I go way back although, if I am honest, my memory is pretty fuzzy of our time in kindergarten and, I think, grade 1 together. I remember her much more clearly from high school. She's a mom who goes way beyond just a mommy blogger (although I don't like people running down the whole "mommy blogger" sphere, since being a mommy requires so much of our talents and treasures!), she's a wonderful, thoughtful writer who shares her views on life. She's also a woman after my own heart because she moves all over the place in her interests. Her creativity is astounding!

Bloggy Friends:

Jill - Jill and I met through a wonderful online Bible study that I discovered when I first entered the world of blogging. Jill has been there for me through thick and thin and she's yet another wise woman (I have learned so much about how I want to live from these strong, intelligent, thoughtful women!) She's got a heart for those in the world facing hardships and she really strives to live her beliefs in everything she does. She has several blogs, including a private family blog, a blog about her faith and how she lives life called Daily Bread and a blog to support the ministry of Compassion, called Compassion Family.

Gin - Gin and I also met through the Bible study and Gin is another friend who has been there through thick and thin. She has recently had a gorgeous son and it's so much fun to experience her joy in motherhood and the turn her life has taken. Gin's deeply committed to her faith and to improving the lives of the people around her - I feel lucky to know her, even if it's only online.

Ms. Huis - We met when I first entered the world of blogging and she stopped by via a friend. She has been a commenter (hooray!) and an encourager and a fellow running enthusiast. She's also a super cook!

Laura, at Nestled Under Rainbows - I don't know how I stumbled across Laura's blog but she's in Ireland, raising her three children, the youngest of whom is almost the same age as Baby Bean. She's creative, she's actively involved with her children and she seems, at least to me, to have found the secret to simplifying life down to it's richest aspects. Laura doesn't generally write involved, deep posts, she mostly writes about the daily life of her family but I love peeking into her world.

Lucy, at Attic24 - my Anglophile heart loves Lucy's blog - it's full of lovely photos of the area of Northern England in which she lives and photos of the lovely things in her life, most especially her crochet work and calendar pictures she loves. It's a visually beautiful blog and she always makes me want to pick up my knitting needles!

Monica, at The Homespun Heart - I love Monica's blog. She consistently captures the beauty possible in family life, whether it's how to set a lovely table, how to have a quiet family moment or how to celebrate life's little pleasures. Her faith is really strong and I really look up to the way she keeps her love of God and her desire to live Biblically at the forefront of her life. Hers is a really pretty blog and it is so calming, she helps me to take a deep breath and remember what's important

Angela, at Free Spirit Haven - Angela came into my life at a time when I was really struggling. Every Friday, she posts prayer requests and personally contacts everyone who contacts her. She's faced a lot of challenges in her life and fights the battles with frustration, despair and longing that we all fight. Instead of pretending that all is well, she honestly shares her struggles and how her faith gets her though. She also is the best yard-saler in creation and I love her Saturday "Yard Sale Haul" posts.

It's hard to stop there - I think this may have to be expanded to another post but I need to go to bed. Thank you to these bloggers who take me out of my own life and inspire me to live each day to the fullest!

On the Run

I have been keeping up with my running and I am really excited about it. Before I forget, here is the link to the podrunner podcasts that I am using. The music is o.k. and it means that I don't have to bother about using some kind of stopwatch. The music is also kept to a strict tempo to build your pace and stamina. I just finished week 3 of the 5 to 8 k.

I can't believe how much I am enjoying this. I won't lie, there are mornings that I don't feel like running and there are certainly times during the run that I wish I could stop. On the other hand, I love the fact that, when I start my day with my run, I can go through the rest of the day feeling like I have accomplished something. I also, for the first time in my life, feel like I am really improving my fitness. I have worked out in one form or another since 2nd year university, either doing some kind of workout tape or walking, walking, walking. I never really noticed the improvement in my fitness that I was hoping for. With running, I can really see the change. Last Wednesday, Dh's alarm didn't go off and I didn't get to have my morning run. The only time I had was late afternoon, when it was just too hot to run outside. I decided to do my run on the treadmill. I had to up the speed from what I used to run at since my previous indoor running pace felt too slow and I ran 6.35 km in the time, which is almost double what I was running when I started. It's so good to feel fit and strong. This morning, I tried a new route that was mostly uphill (the next run I am hoping to do in the fall is very hilly, I have been told, so I want to start training that way) and I could still do it.

How's your running going?

Latest Knitting Project

I have finally finished a knitting project. Everything went on hold when I went back to work and it has been really frustrating me since I have a long list of things I would like to knit. Since the holidays started, I have been back at it and I finally finished this cardigan for Pk. I am very happy with the results. It's knitting in a bamboo blend and I was a bit concerned about how it would turn out. The yarn is a funny weight that I love in blankets (Baby Bean has two) but I wasn't so sure about in a sweater. I LOVE the colour (celery green is one of my all-time favourite colours). Here's a link to the pattern:
I have an adorable little tunic that I have just started (actually, it's the same one Pk is wearing on the header to my blog) and I am having lots of fun with it already. My knitting to-do list is huge right now, cross your fingers for me that I can find some time.

Happiness Is...

Before I start, I warn you, this is a rambling post with no real direction. Sorry, but I am feeling kind of happy and rambly today. It's a nice way to be.

At the end of the last week, I was feeling a bit discouraged. There had been some things at work on Thursday, our last day, that left a very bad taste in my mouth. People were mean and gossip-y and just plain nasty. Things aren't good with my brother right now, either, and that has really been bothering me. I was pleased that the summer holidays had arrived but overall, I was feeling rather discouraged.

Along came the last several days. I don't know that I could explain what was so wonderful about them but I feel so re-charged. I have had time with friends, time with my husband and my kids and time in my home. I've also really had a chance to reconnect with what makes me happy.

As you already know, Friday was Canada Day and it was great. Saturday ended up being just as good. In the morning, we went to a craft programme at the library. It turned out that many of our friends were there - it was a kind of reunion, since several moms who had been off on mat leave with me but who have gone back to work were there. It felt like the good old days from last year. Afterwards, we went out to the splashpad, which has become a favourite haunt of ours. Pk is gradually getting braver and given that Daddy was there to carry her through a few of the scarier parts of the splashpad, we had a lot of fun. All of us were soaked by the time we left to go home.

(If you are wondering about Baby Bean's odd outfit, I forgot to take him a shirt to wear with his bathing suit and with his fair colouring, I was not going to leave him uncovered outside. He wore his onesie with his bathing suit to protect his skin)
Saturday night was really fun. We have friends who have a LOVELY garden and large yard and they have an annual Canada Day party, complete with fireworks. There was a pool set up for the kids along with lots of outdoor toys, yummy food and an amazing fireworks display. Baby Bean and I didn't last until the fireworks but Pk and Dh stayed and greatly enjoyed the show. Baby Bean also pulled up for the first time in a while (he did it at 9 months and then once he started seriously bum-shuffling, he stopped being so interested). He did it on the outer side of the pool and looked for a bit like he was going to do a header right into the pool!


Sunday was a lovely day, too. There was church in the morning with good friends and good worship. Pk loves her friends at church and I love the fact that she is so happy there. Afterwards, there is a crowd of kids who just run and run and run in the gym, with total glee. We often leave, dragging a child away who is crying about wanting to stay. I am so glad that she feels that way about church. There is going to be a kids group starting next week and I hope she enjoys that just as much.

For supper, we went up to visit our good friend at her farm. It was a lovely day, hot and humid, the kind of day that is so marvelous at the farm. With the open spaces and the air-conditioned house, everything feels so clean and open. We had divine barbecued ribs, fresh peas and asparagus from the farm down the road. It seemed like a perfect summer thing to do. Pk was thrilled because she got to help "Grannie A" take care of the chickens. She plodded along, helping to round the chickens up into the barn at dusk. The photos don't do the beauty of the scene credit.


Again, yesterday was a wonderful day. At times, I forget how much fun it is to go and help someone. A friend at work had been moved to a new classroom and the person leaving the room had not exactly been cooperative about moving her stuff out. This friend was treated rather badly and on Thursday, when we all had some time to finish cleaning up and doing some setting up, she couldn't even get into her room. I knew that she was planning on going in yesterday so Dh and I decided that we would go in and give her a hand. We totally surprised her and within about 20 minutes, all of her bulletin boards were done. Seriously, in terms of my happiness project, if I am thinking about what makes me happy, doing a good turn for someone else feels so good. That might sound sappy but if you are a friend of mine, you must understand what I mean.

After lunch, we went down to the big city to visit more friends. There are friends and then there are those special friends who you couldn't imagine life without. This is one of those. She has been a part of just about every important event in my life and feels like family (but better, she isn't frustrating the way that family can be). We didn't do anything spectacular, just visit, out for dinner and then hanging out on their front lawn with the kids but it was lovely. The best part for me was watching our kids playing together. They had a huge cardboard tube (a neighbour was doing renovations) and they played happily for hours. It was one of those times that I knew, insignificant though it was, it was going to be a memory for me forever.

Finally, yesterday was yet another good day. We slept in (kids included, that makes it a memorable day in and of itself) and then went for a walk in the forest with the dogs. We followed that up with a trip to the library for the drop-in programme. I have been spending considerable time going through clothing and I decided to drop off Baby Bean's stuff from last summer and fall to Pk's music teacher who just had a boy. They have two older girls and, in their words, their son is current "the prettiest boy in town" since all they have is pink. They were so grateful. Again, it was so much fun to make someone else happy! (If you've read "The Happiness Project", you will know the connection)

Yesterday afternoon, the kids slept and I actually got some work done. I am teaching a split grade next year and have been feeling pretty nervous about it. That hour spent planning math really helped to set my mind at rest. I got the next weekly activity ready for Baby Bean, sorted through more clothing and even did some mending I haven't had time for. I baked treats for Dh to take to his meeting last night and I made one of Pk's favourite meals. We even had time for bubbles outside.

Baby Bean is such a boy - I don't mean to be stereotypical but my kids seem to really follow standard gender rules He has discovered a love for dirt, for messes and for wallowing in stuff. A pile of dried leaves was the favourite when we were outside. He did think the bubbles were pretty cool, though.
Finally, our girl on her "big girl" bike. She loves, loves, loves it and I got it from Craigslist for $25 last year. If you are wondering, normally, I wouldn't choose a Gap dress for outside play and biking but she is determined to wear "princess dresses" for everything right now. Our compromise is that I buy whatever I can at either Goodwill or Once Upon a Child. When I paid less than $10 for it (and if it came from the Goodwill Friday sales, which I frequent, it's often less than $2), I don't care if it gets beaten up and stained.

Baby Bean can't be left out and our solution was to get him this Smartrike for his birthday. It's ugly as sin (at least, I think so) but really, it was brilliant thinking on someone's part. It has straps and a push handle for me so he can use it now but it gradually converts to a standard tricycle. He loves it and obviously sees himself as a big boy when he uses it. I am trying to keep us all really active this summer and we take the bikes out just about every day.
Finally, another bridge. I wanted to do our almost daily hour long walk but the sky was looking very dark and I was worried about getting stuck away from home in a storm. We decided that the best compromise was to go to the park at the end of our street. There's a bridge and Pk and I practice her hops for dance on the bridge (don't ask me why she is willing to do them on a bridge but not anywhere else but I don't argue). She wanted me to take photos and the garden was a nice backdrop. If Baby Bean hadn't been determined to hurl himself from the bench, the photos might have turned out.

Happiness Project Month 1 Wrap Up, Month 2

So, this week was much better in terms of my rest goals. Last Sunday, I managed to avoid technology completely and it made a huge difference. I feel like I have won the time lottery. That is definitely something I want to continue. I also like that Sunday feels so different than any other day of the week. I do realise, however, just how reliant on email I am. I had to send Dh down to the computer a few times to check email around possible plans with people. That was kind of silly and felt a bit like cheating. I am going to have to make sure that everyone knows that I don't use the computer on Sunday. I have gotten Pk mostly in her own bed at night (we did have a couple of really last nights with fireworks, etc. that I caved and just let her go to sleep with me as I didn't have the energy for a prolonged bedtime). That has made a huge difference.

The biggest thing I have learned this month, however, is that if I want to make changes, I need to write down what I am going to do daily and check in or they just don't happen. I kept meaning to drink more water but, as I wasn't deliberate about it, it frequently just didn't happen. While my focus is going to shift this month, I still am going to strive towards meeting the goal on that one.

Now, only July. This month, my focus is to strive towards an orderly home. I am really looking forward to this one. Our house is in chaos right now. The pantry has an avalanche every time I try to find something, there are toys everywhere and my recipe binder is disgusting. I would find it so much more restful to come home to a house that is in order, tidy and without the clutter. Here are my goals for the month:

1. Clean out my recipe binder and be sure that recent new favourites are filed so I don't have to keep printing them off.

2. Every day, clean off one surface or area

3. Work towards a yard sale sometime before the end of the summer.

4. List the bigger baby items that we are finished with on Craigslist or Kijiji for sale and get them out of here.

5. Do a purge of the dollar store toys that keep coming into our house as either loot bag treats or as gifties from a certain uncle and that we are always tripping over.

I started cleaning through baby clothing yesterday and I thought I would be so sad but really, it feels so good to feel like something is getting accomplished. I have a feeling that, if I actually manage to get this done, I am going to feel much calmer.

Canada Day!

Our Canada Day was lovely this year. Rarely does a day that I have planned live up to expectation. This one did!

We started out with the small community parade not far from where my parents live. Since the city amalgamation, it is evident that there is even less money for it and it was tiny. We enjoyed it, though, and as soon as Pk heard the bagpipes, she started practicing her highland dance. Both kids had on their Canada Day shirts.

Gran and Momis (my parents) came with us. Dad managed to (mostly) hide his disdain for politicians of certain persuasions (I struggled with that, he refused to shake the hand of the politician representing a certain party and that bothered me considerably). Pk loved having them there.
Pk sat in "the" chair at "the" parade (if I looked, I am sure I could find many photos of me in that chair at the same parade back in the late 1970's).



Like all good Canadians, we had to include a visit to Tim Horton's. I am embarrassed to say that Pk can recognize their sign and immediately asks for timbits. My mother was in awe of the speed and glee with which Baby Bean polished off a whole-wheat raspberry muffin.
I managed to strike one item off my summer list. We took the kids to the wading pool at the end of my parents' street. A great time was had by all. Pk was put off by the cold water at first but in the hot sun, it quickly began to warm up and the sun made the cold water feel very refreshing.
We had to use up some time at the park beforehand since the guy who was supposed to open the pool didn't show up and his replacement was over an hour late. We tried, in vain, online to find the opening and closing times on the city website. You can certainly see evidence of cuts already from the new mayor (who my husband loves to call "Boss Hogg" as he does bear a strong resemblance in both appearance and ethics).






We wound up the day exactly as I had hoped - Pk and I went to our town fireworks. Daddy stayed home with Baby Bean since we didn't think he would be so keen on either the fireworks or the fact of being out at 10 p.m. Pk and I had a blast. For a smallish town, they were great. Needless to say, we were asked to sing, "O Canada" before they began and I cried like a baby - I wouldn't say I am a huge nationalist or anything but there's something about a large group of people singing that gets me every time.


I hope you had a lovely day and that your summer is filled with fun. For my American friends, best wishes for your July 4th celebrations!

Happy Canada Day!!!

Happy Canada Day, everyone! We plan to enjoy it celebrating Canada and summer all day! I'll fill you in later but in the meantime, we are off for some Canadian fun.