Sunday, July 29, 2012
Hooliganting: After Hours: Sunshine and Sparks
Hooliganting: After Hours: Sunshine and Sparks: Admittedly, I am a wee bit on the tired side as I loaf once again on my squishy sofa. Stretched out, I am very relaxed but I can also see th...
After Hours: Sunshine and Sparks
Admittedly, I am a wee bit on the tired side as I loaf once again on my squishy sofa. Stretched out, I am very relaxed but I can also see the chores for the week ahead, and along with it, the busyness of it. However, I am still coming off the weekend after hours events and think that it was all worth it.
Up here in the north, the forecast for the weekend involved rain and thundershowers, or sunshine and warmth, depending on which forecast that you looked at. I sized up the situation and followed an impulse to head out to Gregoire Lake early Thursday to set up a tent. Campsite hunting in itself is a bit of an adventure. First, you have to plot out your potential neighbours to try and find some solitude and friendliness in the surroundings. Travelling with small people means that I prefer to be away from the late night partiers. It turns out that the campsite was well booked and there were only three spots available so I snagged the first tent friendly one that I found. There were puppies and children so I thought the neighbours looked good. Back into town I went after setting up the site.
After we were done, I headed out. Supper was acquired on the way so by the time I got there, all the work was mostly done. That left time for an evening on the water with the girls and their sparkly pink fishing poles. It's a good thing their Dad has taught them how to use them, I wouldn't have a clue. I wasn't sad that they didn't catch a fish though. I got back to the site to find that friends had decided to wander out as well and had the trailer already set up. The girls had their playmates and I had company. Company is good as there were supposedly bears on the loose.
The other thing about having more than one adult is that you have the opportunity for sparks. Fire. We acquired some firewood and set up the chairs. The wood smoked. The paper bubbled. More smoke. That wood was wretchedly wet. My partner in crime looked at me and suggested gasoline? I agreed. Whoosh...sparks...we definitely had fire. A bit more than we bargained for. However, we settled back into the chairs with our drinks and watched the stars sparkle in the sky. It was stunning.
The other best part about ignoring the weather reports was that we woke up the next day to serious sunshine. Beach day! The whole day was spent lounging on the lake shore beach, soaking up sun and shade. Sandcastles were built and caterpillars became pets. Water was shunted from tap to sand. The children became absolutely filthy. I think it was a great way to spend a Friday. We added to our numbers in the evening, just in time for more fire and smores.
The trick to making a delightful smore is to first have graham crackers that are not crumbly. You place one cracker close to the fire on the grate and put a small piece of chocolate on top. Then, roast your marshmallow to your desired flavor. I like mine golden brown. Then put the marshmallow onto the chocolate by using another cracker as the lid. You have a smore with real melting chocolate. It is warm, gooey, sticky and delicious. Not to mention the inevitable smoke inhalation that comes with the territory at some point. The children were smored and sent to bed and then the wine flowed.
There still wasn't enough wine to drown out the rowdies. Or to enable me to ignore the repeated bathroom trips to the outhouse required by the girls. By three, I had gone about 8 times with the youngest. Mental note: less to drink tomorrow! Then at 3, my eldest awoke and needed the facilities. I was so tired and she is older. so I suggested she take the flashlight and head out on her own. I heard a high pitched shriek. I started to get out of bed. I then heard scrabbling back to the tent with a little voice going mommy mommy mommy....I got up and she barrelled back to the tent.
"There was a BEAR."
"What?"
"A BEAR, by the outhouse."
Of course there was. I haul myself out of bed and knowing that the bathroom is futile, persuade her to go in the trees. The next day, we discussed the matter with the conservation officers who assured me that yes, most likely there was a bear there. Whoo boy...the first time I decide she can be grown up enough to head out on her own and whammo....I think I just set myself back a few years. Whoops.
Bleary eyed, the other adults cooked breakfast while I lounged in bed. I just didn't have the energy to get up. I managed it around 10:30. And guess what? A second beach day! Ha ha to the folks that believed the forecast for storms. Mind you, we did hear them but not a drop of rain fell until late evening. We had another sunny day on the beach with more castles and more fun. I read a book and got transported to Italy in the process. And in the evening, more fire....more sparks.
Of course, Nemesis in the form of rain came in time for take down. But that is such a minor blip from the benefit of relaxing on the beach all weekend. I'll take it.
Up here in the north, the forecast for the weekend involved rain and thundershowers, or sunshine and warmth, depending on which forecast that you looked at. I sized up the situation and followed an impulse to head out to Gregoire Lake early Thursday to set up a tent. Campsite hunting in itself is a bit of an adventure. First, you have to plot out your potential neighbours to try and find some solitude and friendliness in the surroundings. Travelling with small people means that I prefer to be away from the late night partiers. It turns out that the campsite was well booked and there were only three spots available so I snagged the first tent friendly one that I found. There were puppies and children so I thought the neighbours looked good. Back into town I went after setting up the site.
After we were done, I headed out. Supper was acquired on the way so by the time I got there, all the work was mostly done. That left time for an evening on the water with the girls and their sparkly pink fishing poles. It's a good thing their Dad has taught them how to use them, I wouldn't have a clue. I wasn't sad that they didn't catch a fish though. I got back to the site to find that friends had decided to wander out as well and had the trailer already set up. The girls had their playmates and I had company. Company is good as there were supposedly bears on the loose.
The other thing about having more than one adult is that you have the opportunity for sparks. Fire. We acquired some firewood and set up the chairs. The wood smoked. The paper bubbled. More smoke. That wood was wretchedly wet. My partner in crime looked at me and suggested gasoline? I agreed. Whoosh...sparks...we definitely had fire. A bit more than we bargained for. However, we settled back into the chairs with our drinks and watched the stars sparkle in the sky. It was stunning.
The other best part about ignoring the weather reports was that we woke up the next day to serious sunshine. Beach day! The whole day was spent lounging on the lake shore beach, soaking up sun and shade. Sandcastles were built and caterpillars became pets. Water was shunted from tap to sand. The children became absolutely filthy. I think it was a great way to spend a Friday. We added to our numbers in the evening, just in time for more fire and smores.
The trick to making a delightful smore is to first have graham crackers that are not crumbly. You place one cracker close to the fire on the grate and put a small piece of chocolate on top. Then, roast your marshmallow to your desired flavor. I like mine golden brown. Then put the marshmallow onto the chocolate by using another cracker as the lid. You have a smore with real melting chocolate. It is warm, gooey, sticky and delicious. Not to mention the inevitable smoke inhalation that comes with the territory at some point. The children were smored and sent to bed and then the wine flowed.
There still wasn't enough wine to drown out the rowdies. Or to enable me to ignore the repeated bathroom trips to the outhouse required by the girls. By three, I had gone about 8 times with the youngest. Mental note: less to drink tomorrow! Then at 3, my eldest awoke and needed the facilities. I was so tired and she is older. so I suggested she take the flashlight and head out on her own. I heard a high pitched shriek. I started to get out of bed. I then heard scrabbling back to the tent with a little voice going mommy mommy mommy....I got up and she barrelled back to the tent.
"There was a BEAR."
"What?"
"A BEAR, by the outhouse."
Of course there was. I haul myself out of bed and knowing that the bathroom is futile, persuade her to go in the trees. The next day, we discussed the matter with the conservation officers who assured me that yes, most likely there was a bear there. Whoo boy...the first time I decide she can be grown up enough to head out on her own and whammo....I think I just set myself back a few years. Whoops.
Bleary eyed, the other adults cooked breakfast while I lounged in bed. I just didn't have the energy to get up. I managed it around 10:30. And guess what? A second beach day! Ha ha to the folks that believed the forecast for storms. Mind you, we did hear them but not a drop of rain fell until late evening. We had another sunny day on the beach with more castles and more fun. I read a book and got transported to Italy in the process. And in the evening, more fire....more sparks.
Of course, Nemesis in the form of rain came in time for take down. But that is such a minor blip from the benefit of relaxing on the beach all weekend. I'll take it.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Hooliganting: The Little Things
Hooliganting: The Little Things: This month seems to be one for appreciating the little things. My family has been reeling from waves of illnesses, some are still lingerin...
The Little Things
I have noticed that the specialist decided to make himself and his staff more than available after my daughter came down with pneumonia. He didn't have to go the extra mile just for us but his friendly nurse and professionalism was amazing. With that came the unexpected road trip where we found our friends as willing to visit as always. It was wonderful to see everyone and I really ought to drive down more often. My youngest even got a brief visit with her "bestie" from Grade 1 who moved away last Spring.
Having children that are sick is never fun. I have noticed that people took time out of their day to send supportive messages and to commiserate. Whether through facebook or text messages or phone calls, know that I have appreciated not being lonely. Understandably, people didn't want to visit.
Staying at home for days at a time is not in character for me, so this turn of events has created a lot more quiet time than I am used to. I have read books and watched movies. I have spent time in the garden watching the cat slumber under the choke cherry. Thunderstorms have rolled through and created the time to organize and declutter some areas of the house. Ok...I threw stuff out but it still looks as crowded as always.
Of course, I finished things off by being ill myself. From sharing a cold to the flu, I guess the weeks took a toll on me too. I appreciated waking up to messages that told me the girls were at camp and that the driving was already arranged. There were enough left overs from the dinner so I didn't have to worry about food. Work had been called and I could sink blissfully back into bed to feel wretched all by myself without having to worry. Eventually, I decided I should disinfect things again and do laundry again, but that wasn't until well into the afternoon hours. I noticed that I had time to get well. I really appreciated that...after all it is so much harder to look after self when having to figure out everyone else through the fog.
This month, I have also noticed some other small things that I really appreciate.
- an ice cap from Tim Hortons while driving around town...sneaking those in has been a treat.
- being able to get to exercise classes at the YMCA during the summer. Yes, I missed today but you didn't want me there...lol.
- having people willing to help me with the girls despite the changing plans. The "whodo" was awesome.
- watching the Tour de France and having an unpredictable race unfold...with more questions than answers in some cases.
- flowers in my garden that are attracting butterflies and real honey bees
- neighborhood children to play with the girls
- warm showers that soak into the bones
Gratitude is an art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture. ~Kak Sri
Friday, July 20, 2012
Hooliganting: Road Trip: Ukrainian Historical Village
Hooliganting: Road Trip: Ukrainian Historical Village: Sometimes, there is a detour in the road. I had explored the map and thought hmmmm. You see, I was on the road to Edmonton in order ...
Road Trip: Ukrainian Historical Village
