OTTOWA

Parliament Hill.

Flags of ALL the Provinces/Territories (just love seeing "sets" of things. complete sets)

Caramel Apple with nuts, chocolate, oh and heck, add some more nuts.

Marble halls.

Picture with Nellie McClung (sp.?). "Women are Persons". Do you remember those "A part of our heritage.." commercials. And - "Dr. Pennfield, I smell burnt toast!"

Tour guide for going through the Parliament buildings said "etchetera, etchetera...", instead of etcetera.

Good looking Mounty. Mountie?

Good looking guys riding bicycles all over the city.

Which reminds me - I have zits. They are getting worse. sigh.

Winnipeg, and I don't even get to look around a bit. I guess I shouldn't go on this trip with that kind of attitude, and should just be happy with what I DO get to see and who I get to meet.

I am on my way, with my parents, to St. Stephen for university. Driving all the way. So there a few places where we will stay more than a night, but other than that we are passing through all these great major cities so fast! This is our first night and we are staying with my second cousin and her husband. I have never met them before and they are close to Mom and Dads age and have kids around my age. They are great people, my kind of people. I like when talking comes easy, and listening too. Sometimes, some people (especially people of my parents ANCIENT age), not everyone, are hard to listen to for long periods of time. But I found myself very content listening and talking and visiting ALL night long, and not trying to find a reason to go hide in a bed room somewhere (in their VERY cute house). I want a house someday. One that is all mine, and I can decorate and accumulate. I like to accumulate. I am forever moving and getting rid of wonderful finds. Maybe that's good, maybe I will never be much of a homebody? Maybe I will be forever on the move? (Can you hear as the panic slowly enters my voice?) I found it quite hard to pack for this year of school; not knowing what exactly I am getting into. "Well what if I would want this? will I need that? are these shoes at all realistic, what if I want them to dress up in at a costume party?" Sigh, I DID bring a vintage style hat, vintage coat and a fun dress.

Come and Gone (and the bra story)

We spent one glorious afternoon/evening on the beach. Swimming, skipping stones, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and playing horseshoes. I don't think much else can beat that late afternoon sun warming you all over, with a fire to keep you warm when the sun goes down. Outside sunshine with food and family!


This is soon after we arrived in town, Mike came by and gave 5 (nephew) a ride on his bike. Then he gave me a ride. I was doing fine 'til he started swerving... I stopped breathing at that point.
And that will be all for the pictures. Dang computer is not working properly. I probably tried 6 times now to upload more than that. Sigh.
I do have a funny story though. I made playdough the other day (like a week and a half ago now) and 5 and 6 were playing happily outside with it, while I sat by and supervised/got my new macbook up and running. I tuned in when I heard 5 say, "Know what this is?"
"No", was the reply.
"You know those things that ladies wear under there shirts?..."
"To cover their breasts?"
"Ya, thats what this is", and he laughed heartily.
5 had attempted to make a heart, he must have put the cookie-cutter very close to the edge of the playdough, because all that he got was a bra shaped "cookie".
I pretended not to hear. What was I supposed to say?

I have been back 2 weeks today

Next blog I promise there will be pictures, maybe.

Lonliness is sort of settling in. I try to keep it at bay, but alas, here I am in a rather small community. I have friends and a couple of parents (who lovingly tell me that soon I will have many people around, as I will be living in community at school in the fall) and a few nephews, who, despite being fun and energetic and always willing to do something, are not fulfilling a little empty space in me. I like to think of myself as able to be alone and occupy my thoughts and time with wonderful 'lone' kind of things - but it's different isn't it - when you have the choice to be alone or when you don't. I guess I am so used to so many people around, like in Kelowna - the place where I said I was glad to be gone from... well, I think that still holds true.
I have been walking most evenings, when the three boys are tucked away in bed (after reading "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" or "The Sheep-Pig" to them of course). I have been seeing many white owls. I also have many encounters with mosquitoes - gotta love 'em!
The other day when I was driving to Demaine to pick up a lady before church, two moose crossed the road in front of me. When I passed the little valley that they ran into I saw that they were not just two moose, but they were twins. I saw the mother there too, looking much larger. I was quite pleased with myself having seen them, as if I had something to do with them crossing right in front of me.
I find myself singing (Bug, you will know how exactly I am singing) -
"Ooooooooh...
The Lord is good to me,
and so I thank the Lord,
for giving me
the things I need,
the birds and the bees (really? oh my!),
and the apple trees.
The Lord is good to me!"
Amen.

Flatlanding

I flatlanded. I am back in Saskatchewan, Lucky Lake to be exact. Away from The Bug and her Bean (I miss them dearly!). She told me she could have me live with her for a year. That would be wonderful, but I am ready to be out of Kelowna, out of BC. I am stepping into new things and I guess Lucky Lake is my "stepping stone". Maybe I'll get lucky... hmm, sounds sketchy.
So far, so good. I have gone for some hot evening prairie walks, swam a swim, played baseball, hockey and horseshoes. Three little ones (10, 6 and 5) join me here. 10 and 5 make me weary more often than not - but hey - I only get to see them every few years as they have their home in Uganda, Africa. 10 is writing a story about three spies who are from the US, move to China, then back to NY, then off to England. They disguise themselves and steal the money they need to travel, therefore they are spies. He is on Chapter 3. 6 is 6 years old and is reading The Chronicles of Narnia, he really amazes me! 5 learned how to ride his bike in a day, likes me to tickle his back, and cries a lot. This weekend I have them all to myself! We will watch Prince Caspian Friday or Saturday night, a long awaited event.

my toast to you, Bean

that was new years

we are one

graduationing

ceremonies of the graduate

the dentist's office

I just hate that feeling - well, I hate a lot of feelings - the uncomfortable ones. The ones where you realize you would much rather be running in the opposite direction, or hiding, or bawling, than sitting in the dentists chair, or even driving to the dentist, or forgetting your wallet on the bench in the airport, or misplacing your keys, or making a speech, or asking for forgiveness.

I finally kicked myself in the rear end and went for a small check-up at a dentist. Not my dentist, he was away on holidays. So I phoned up some dentist I don't know and asked if they could fit me in today or tomorrow. Yes they could. 1:40. I went to brush my teeth and floss and had a thought. Maybe I can see a dark spot in this tooth that is giving me so much pain when I drink, eat and even breath... WHOA! There is a fricking hole in my tooth! The sickening feeling floods my stomach. The dreaded drive. The nerve wracking wait in the chair. The feared words "root canal... crown... $1,500".
Bright side - I actually have that money. Down side - Its being saved for school in the fall, I had barely saved much, and now this. Such is life - C'est la vie...?? is that right?