I started this blog almost a year ago and I never thought how releasing writing a blog would be. Blogs are not for everyone I know because not everyone is able to sit down everyday and write or even every second day or even once a week. But for some it is a huge outlet. There are some amazing blogs out there in Web land and there are some really dreadful ones and there are some very sad and forgotten blogs out there but it is lots of fun to go surfing and find a real gem.... this week I found one of those real gems. It is call Ramblings Of The Bearded One
The Red Hot Chili Peppers said in their song Can't Stop that music was the great communicator.... but I'm afraid that they got it wrong. You see the great communicator of our times is the blog.
I've been doing a little research in an effort to get some Blog Statistics and it is interesting to note that there are no statistical information on the WWWeb that gives a true estimate of blogs worldwide. Some statistical reports give stats for their site but that only takes into consideration one site and there are hundreds of sites where a person can go to set up a blog. I found one what seemed a decent site for blog stats and this is what they had to say...
In September 2002 the New York Times reported that LiveJournal had signed up 690,000 users since 1998 and was currently gaining another 1,100 bloggers per day. It is unclear whether all 690,000 were (and still are) maintaining their personal pages and, if so, how frequently.
In the same month the Times claimed that Brazil was the "second-largest Blogger-using country" after the US, with up to 13% of the 750,000 Blogger users.
There are so many blogs that there is no possible ability to for one person to view all the good blogs on the web let alone identify the good from the bad which would mean following hundred of thousands of blogs. The likelihood of someone picking up your blog is huge. It would be like walking down a street and rubbing elbow with royalty.... highly unlikely. Yet people do find blogs of interest and they do follow them. It is amazing how one blog can capture the attention of millions of people. All it takes is someone saying, "hey I read a great blog at such and such a site. I'll send you the url.... that's it and off and running is the blog.
It's funny because it is likely that most people start writing a blog to vent a few things on their mind and maybe journal and improve their writing skills. the possibility of the unknown is so impossible that a blogger might not even take that into consideration. Yet it is that very reason that I like blogs. It's cool to be able to write and you can fool yourself into thinking that blogging is for you and you alone but yet its out there for all to see.
I know how hard it is to find information on my ancestors because over the years I have helped my Dad with his interest in genealogy. Our ancestors didn't have the internet to put their thoughts out there open to the world. We have so much more opportunity to connect with others than did our ancestors. I hate to be an historian of the future. It would be impossible to sift through the reams of information that are so close and personal.
I never met my paternal grandfather. He died of cancer long before I was born and I have always had a unexplainable curiosity about him. There are very few pictures of him and there are so many conflicting descriptions among my family members that it is hard to decide what is true.... I can only imagine how easy it would be to get to know my grandfather if blogs had been around during his life and he were a blogger.
I can get to know someone on the other side of the world just by following regularly, the writings of a blog that I just happen to hit by serendipity. It somehow makes it a much smaller world.... don't you think?
Friday, September 18, 2009
What Did I Do
That dull day that I had was so boring until right out of the blue I got a really neat email from a lady who wanted some information on the spinning of wolf fibre and weaving bookmarks with it. I had been using Duff's fibre to spin and weave bookmarks and she was interested... that got my juices flowing. It was just the kick in the pants that I needed. I got all fired up about doing things and so I washed a bag of Duff's fibre and then went to work on my 7 foot tri-loom. 
I had been having trouble with getting the start of my shawl on the tri-loom right and so had pulled it off several times and then thrown up my hands in disgust as I couldn't find my instructions to get me started. I went on the internet (gotta love that) and downloaded the instructions on how to get started and got right down to it. I haven't woven a lot since I had a meeting in the night but now that I'm going (and don't need the instructions to continue) all is right with the world.
Yesterday I headed into FSJ for a day of weaving on the guild's 36" floor loom. I finished a shawl yesterday if you can believe that.... a whole shawl! My back is groaning today as weaving takes muscles in your back that you don't normally use. Five hours of weaving is not really a good way to get back into the swing of things. Usually starting with a half an hour of weaving a day and then slowly increasing with 15 minutes each day gets your back into good shape for regular weaving but for those of us who don't own a floor loom and must use the guild's, we don't have the luxury of doing that. You go to the guild's workshop and you weave like a demon until you are finished so that the next person who wants to use the loom can do so.... it means for some serious aches and pains.
That just means that I should buy myself a floor loom doesn't it???
Today is a windy day and I look out the window here and am glad that there are still leaves on the trees. Some autumns we have had all of our leaves fallen by now. But for some reason this year, there are still lots of leaves and even better there are lots that are still more green than yellow. That means that we will have a somewhat prolonged autumn. I love it.
Knit nights began again after a lengthy summer break and it was good to connect with those ladies after such a long time. I did not bring knitting though. I brought along my rug hooking as I want to finish a few of the projects that I have on the go before starting any new ones. My rug is coming along nicely
but I will soon have to put it away as I am starting to think about my commission for a jacket. As a matter of a fact I am weighting out the fibre to be blended and have piles
all over my table as I write. These will blended on the drum carder and then spun over the next few days.
So there you have it a general breakdown on the activities of myself after falling out of the doldrums. Today is sunny with serious threats of cloud. Wind is blustery and too cold for outdoor activities. A good day to spin, weave, and plan for future projects.
I had been having trouble with getting the start of my shawl on the tri-loom right and so had pulled it off several times and then thrown up my hands in disgust as I couldn't find my instructions to get me started. I went on the internet (gotta love that) and downloaded the instructions on how to get started and got right down to it. I haven't woven a lot since I had a meeting in the night but now that I'm going (and don't need the instructions to continue) all is right with the world. Yesterday I headed into FSJ for a day of weaving on the guild's 36" floor loom. I finished a shawl yesterday if you can believe that.... a whole shawl! My back is groaning today as weaving takes muscles in your back that you don't normally use. Five hours of weaving is not really a good way to get back into the swing of things. Usually starting with a half an hour of weaving a day and then slowly increasing with 15 minutes each day gets your back into good shape for regular weaving but for those of us who don't own a floor loom and must use the guild's, we don't have the luxury of doing that. You go to the guild's workshop and you weave like a demon until you are finished so that the next person who wants to use the loom can do so.... it means for some serious aches and pains.
That just means that I should buy myself a floor loom doesn't it???
Today is a windy day and I look out the window here and am glad that there are still leaves on the trees. Some autumns we have had all of our leaves fallen by now. But for some reason this year, there are still lots of leaves and even better there are lots that are still more green than yellow. That means that we will have a somewhat prolonged autumn. I love it.
Knit nights began again after a lengthy summer break and it was good to connect with those ladies after such a long time. I did not bring knitting though. I brought along my rug hooking as I want to finish a few of the projects that I have on the go before starting any new ones. My rug is coming along nicely
but I will soon have to put it away as I am starting to think about my commission for a jacket. As a matter of a fact I am weighting out the fibre to be blended and have piles
all over my table as I write. These will blended on the drum carder and then spun over the next few days. So there you have it a general breakdown on the activities of myself after falling out of the doldrums. Today is sunny with serious threats of cloud. Wind is blustery and too cold for outdoor activities. A good day to spin, weave, and plan for future projects.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Dull Days
Sometimes when things get overwhelming you want to sit down and do nothing. I have so many things that need to be done that all I want to do is just sit and relax with a silly no brainer computer game or a book where I can drift into another world. Even a movie where two hours could be passed lollygagging, as My Grandmother would say, would work. Inactivity is what I want. What I need is to burn my a-- off working like a Trojan.
I need to make bread.... but my bread maker is outside and there is no room on my tiny bit of counter that's left in my kitchen until Hubby installs the new counter.
I need to card wool but my carder is covered in junk and I don't want to pull all that junk off because I don't want to figure out what to do with it.
I need to spin some cotton for level 3 but right now my level 3 books have disappeared and I can't find them.... that's a really lame excuse.
I need to work on the tongue and groove siding on the outside of the house but that means climbing a ladder and going out where it is getting cold.
I need to take off the ship lap boards in our bedroom but that means energy.... something I don't have a lot of.
I need to make invitations to the Sunday school kickoff but I just ran out of ink in my printer.
I need to organize my church budget forms and other work and I'm just too plain lazy.
This is a day that is cloudy and uninspiring. What I want is a cup of hot chocolate, a fire in a wood stove, and a good laugh to lighten my spirits and give me a lift. Anyone want to come by for a visit?
If you can't drop by for tea or a warm beverage check here tomorrow to see what I ended up doing.
I need to make bread.... but my bread maker is outside and there is no room on my tiny bit of counter that's left in my kitchen until Hubby installs the new counter.
I need to card wool but my carder is covered in junk and I don't want to pull all that junk off because I don't want to figure out what to do with it.
I need to spin some cotton for level 3 but right now my level 3 books have disappeared and I can't find them.... that's a really lame excuse.
I need to work on the tongue and groove siding on the outside of the house but that means climbing a ladder and going out where it is getting cold.
I need to take off the ship lap boards in our bedroom but that means energy.... something I don't have a lot of.
I need to make invitations to the Sunday school kickoff but I just ran out of ink in my printer.
I need to organize my church budget forms and other work and I'm just too plain lazy.
This is a day that is cloudy and uninspiring. What I want is a cup of hot chocolate, a fire in a wood stove, and a good laugh to lighten my spirits and give me a lift. Anyone want to come by for a visit?
If you can't drop by for tea or a warm beverage check here tomorrow to see what I ended up doing.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Horses And Wolves
Recently I read a magazine article that really ticked me off. Then I read another magazine article that was full of information that I found to be really informative. I think I'm about to get a little political here. (That's a warning)
The first article I read was in a sporting magazine that Hubby subscribes too. The Article in question is called Big Bad Wolves Pt 2. I was horrified to read in that article that there are those out there who still think of the wolf as a nuisance. They think that shooting wolves is an expedient way of helping their survival rates and that they are a deadly and dreadful threat to human lives. This article astounded me with its deceptive stupidity. I just felt I had to say something.
So here is what I have to say and please remember that I am no expert.... if the subject interests you I suggest you find out the facts. Don't take my word or the word of the author of the above article as fact. This is just MY opinion.
I have always had a great respect for wolves and think they are a beautiful and thrilling species. I have had very little interaction with them usually in the form of hearing distant calls while I sleep peacefully in a campground. I am of the philosophy that the more diverse the planet's species are, the better and healthier our planet's ecosystem is. A few years back Hubby and I and the girls and our two dogs were hunted by a pack of wolves. It was the most thrilling experience I have ever had in my life. I will never forget it and I would never change it for one moment. We were never in any serious danger so that probably makes a difference. I do not hold it against the wolves that they were hunting us. The situation arose because they picked up the scent of our dogs after we had been hiking on a trail and so they followed that scent in to our campsite. We were in our tent trailer in bed and heard them coming, howling in triangulation for a good half hour as they moved closer. they were on the same trail that we had taken earlier in the day and since we were the only campers in that park at that time we knew they were after us. They sat around our tent trailer and probably hoped that they would be able to coax one of our dogs out of our campsite but since both of them were in the trailer with us and we follow very strict safety rules about putting food away in our vehicle where it can't encourage foraging from wildlife, we felt quite safe the whole time.
There are those in this world who believe that species such as wolves and coyotes and bears are nothing more than a nuisance because they prey upon domesticated beasts such as chickens, cattle, and sheep. They feel that the best way to survive and co-habitate is to hunt these animals and keep their numbers controlled so that they pose less of a threat to human survival.
This is where the other article comes into play. In my most recent Spin-off magazine there is an article about spinning wolf fibre and the author sites some statistics which I cannot find any problem with (and believe me I have looked). There she says that there were over 250,000 wolves in the US alone before European contact. By the 1960s that number had been reduced to around 500. With diligent care and a reintroduction of wolves from Canada the number has now increased to about 5000. Now if I have my numbers right then that is a mere 2% of the original population. To me there is something wrong with that picture especially when I read in sporting magazines that, and I quote, "True environmentalist/conservationists are hunters, trappers, and anglers, not the feel-good, save-the-world, haven't-got-a-clue crowd who have yet to realize that when they bought into the beliefs held by the protectionist regime, they added to the dangers associated with large carnivores habituating to human environments. A hunted wolf is a wolf that will successfully coexist with humans."
That just steams my pajamas. These hunter types who profess to be doing the farmers a service by taking out the problems of loss of dollars due to wolf/coyote kills of livestock are delusional. Yes wolves and coyotes do kill livestock,and God knows that given the opportunity a hungry predator will chomp down a human given the right circumstances. It is their way of eating and surviving. That does not give us humans the right to wipe out their numbers. Wolf hunts often run a muck and this species cannot re-assert itself to healthy numbers if not given the chance. 5000 compared to 250,000 is not healthy numbers in my estimation.
I am a member of a Yahoo group called Canspin and recently there have been discussions of spinning wolf fibre since the article in Spin-off magazine has generated many comments. Wolf fibre is not readily available as you can imagine. They will not stand to be sheared and so the fibre must be gathered from the wild where wolves dens are littered with sheddings or from wolves that for whatever reason are held in captivity. I am lucky to own a Wolf/Husky cross dog who still carries a lot of the traits of the wolf in her. She does not eat my lambs when they are out on the grass grazing, and as a matter of a fact, she paroles the perimeter of our property keeping watch over our sheep. She has chased away coyotes from our ducks when we had them and chickens even now. She has chased off foxes and cares for our animals as if they are part of her family. She has wonderful fibre to spin and though she is half dog she reminds me daily of how important it is not to lose wolves from the genetic pool of diverse species on this planet.
What it comes down to, in my opinion, is that wolves should only be hunted in extreme circumstances, where they are a direct threat to children's play areas....or when occasionally they become a constant nuisance (which is usually due to ill health). Farmers should not have the right to indiscriminately kill them. There are methods of keeping safe, herds of cattle and other livestock and these methods should be utilized fully before we get our testosterone flowing and start racing out the door with guns roaring to eliminate the threat of wolves.
Now about the title of this blog.... well you understand the wolves part.... but here's where horses come into it...
Daughter #1 has finally gotten her long wanted horse. We have bought a lovely 17 year old well broken mare named Dreamer for her. She is lovely. Daughter #1 is over the moon. Hubby and I are happy that she is happy.
The first article I read was in a sporting magazine that Hubby subscribes too. The Article in question is called Big Bad Wolves Pt 2. I was horrified to read in that article that there are those out there who still think of the wolf as a nuisance. They think that shooting wolves is an expedient way of helping their survival rates and that they are a deadly and dreadful threat to human lives. This article astounded me with its deceptive stupidity. I just felt I had to say something.
So here is what I have to say and please remember that I am no expert.... if the subject interests you I suggest you find out the facts. Don't take my word or the word of the author of the above article as fact. This is just MY opinion.
I have always had a great respect for wolves and think they are a beautiful and thrilling species. I have had very little interaction with them usually in the form of hearing distant calls while I sleep peacefully in a campground. I am of the philosophy that the more diverse the planet's species are, the better and healthier our planet's ecosystem is. A few years back Hubby and I and the girls and our two dogs were hunted by a pack of wolves. It was the most thrilling experience I have ever had in my life. I will never forget it and I would never change it for one moment. We were never in any serious danger so that probably makes a difference. I do not hold it against the wolves that they were hunting us. The situation arose because they picked up the scent of our dogs after we had been hiking on a trail and so they followed that scent in to our campsite. We were in our tent trailer in bed and heard them coming, howling in triangulation for a good half hour as they moved closer. they were on the same trail that we had taken earlier in the day and since we were the only campers in that park at that time we knew they were after us. They sat around our tent trailer and probably hoped that they would be able to coax one of our dogs out of our campsite but since both of them were in the trailer with us and we follow very strict safety rules about putting food away in our vehicle where it can't encourage foraging from wildlife, we felt quite safe the whole time.
There are those in this world who believe that species such as wolves and coyotes and bears are nothing more than a nuisance because they prey upon domesticated beasts such as chickens, cattle, and sheep. They feel that the best way to survive and co-habitate is to hunt these animals and keep their numbers controlled so that they pose less of a threat to human survival.
This is where the other article comes into play. In my most recent Spin-off magazine there is an article about spinning wolf fibre and the author sites some statistics which I cannot find any problem with (and believe me I have looked). There she says that there were over 250,000 wolves in the US alone before European contact. By the 1960s that number had been reduced to around 500. With diligent care and a reintroduction of wolves from Canada the number has now increased to about 5000. Now if I have my numbers right then that is a mere 2% of the original population. To me there is something wrong with that picture especially when I read in sporting magazines that, and I quote, "True environmentalist/conservationists are hunters, trappers, and anglers, not the feel-good, save-the-world, haven't-got-a-clue crowd who have yet to realize that when they bought into the beliefs held by the protectionist regime, they added to the dangers associated with large carnivores habituating to human environments. A hunted wolf is a wolf that will successfully coexist with humans."
That just steams my pajamas. These hunter types who profess to be doing the farmers a service by taking out the problems of loss of dollars due to wolf/coyote kills of livestock are delusional. Yes wolves and coyotes do kill livestock,and God knows that given the opportunity a hungry predator will chomp down a human given the right circumstances. It is their way of eating and surviving. That does not give us humans the right to wipe out their numbers. Wolf hunts often run a muck and this species cannot re-assert itself to healthy numbers if not given the chance. 5000 compared to 250,000 is not healthy numbers in my estimation.
I am a member of a Yahoo group called Canspin and recently there have been discussions of spinning wolf fibre since the article in Spin-off magazine has generated many comments. Wolf fibre is not readily available as you can imagine. They will not stand to be sheared and so the fibre must be gathered from the wild where wolves dens are littered with sheddings or from wolves that for whatever reason are held in captivity. I am lucky to own a Wolf/Husky cross dog who still carries a lot of the traits of the wolf in her. She does not eat my lambs when they are out on the grass grazing, and as a matter of a fact, she paroles the perimeter of our property keeping watch over our sheep. She has chased away coyotes from our ducks when we had them and chickens even now. She has chased off foxes and cares for our animals as if they are part of her family. She has wonderful fibre to spin and though she is half dog she reminds me daily of how important it is not to lose wolves from the genetic pool of diverse species on this planet.
What it comes down to, in my opinion, is that wolves should only be hunted in extreme circumstances, where they are a direct threat to children's play areas....or when occasionally they become a constant nuisance (which is usually due to ill health). Farmers should not have the right to indiscriminately kill them. There are methods of keeping safe, herds of cattle and other livestock and these methods should be utilized fully before we get our testosterone flowing and start racing out the door with guns roaring to eliminate the threat of wolves.
Now about the title of this blog.... well you understand the wolves part.... but here's where horses come into it...
Daughter #1 has finally gotten her long wanted horse. We have bought a lovely 17 year old well broken mare named Dreamer for her. She is lovely. Daughter #1 is over the moon. Hubby and I are happy that she is happy.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Summer vs Winter
Aaaahhh... lovely!
Blah, Ick, Ugh.... Brrr!
The results are in:
3489 to 1
You know who you are!
Blah, Ick, Ugh.... Brrr!
The results are in:
3489 to 1
You know who you are!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Oh Me Achin' Back
I started exercise class on Monday. It is a class for seniors. It is called Fit For Life. My very good friend started teaching these classes last year and was worried she wasn't going to get enough people coming and that's when she asked if I would be interested in coming and getting in on the deal. At first I was insulted thinking that I'm not a senior... but then I had no place to walk at the time and I wanted to walk in doors where the threat of slippery ice was not a consideration... Fit For Life classes are mostly walking. And so it began.
I haven't been going to exercise class since the Renovation began.... my life was not fit for exercise but instead my life was fit for renovations. But since Fit For Life classes are beginning again and the weather is beginning it's tumble into depressing cold I thought I had better start the year off right. And so I am hoping to be Fit For Life.... well at least fitter for life.
I walked my a-- off today and did a little kick boxing and some weights.... how about that! Now my back has not been the fittest for years and so it is putting up its own protest. I will need a shower preferably HOT, and then I will need to sleep.... yeah that is a good remedy. Argh!
I haven't been going to exercise class since the Renovation began.... my life was not fit for exercise but instead my life was fit for renovations. But since Fit For Life classes are beginning again and the weather is beginning it's tumble into depressing cold I thought I had better start the year off right. And so I am hoping to be Fit For Life.... well at least fitter for life.
I walked my a-- off today and did a little kick boxing and some weights.... how about that! Now my back has not been the fittest for years and so it is putting up its own protest. I will need a shower preferably HOT, and then I will need to sleep.... yeah that is a good remedy. Argh!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Back To School
Yesterday Hubby and the girls got up after a nasty lack-of-sleep night and headed off to the great institution of education. Let me tell you the reaction was diverse as usual. Daughter #1 was not impressed and Daughter #2 was excited and Hubby... well he was just his usual annoying self. Me I'm not sure how I felt. I think I was sad to see my girls go off for another year knowing that they are one more year closer to graduation.
The day started with it's normal fiasco self. I had to go to the shed to find something for Daughter #1, who was having difficulty getting herself motivated to get out of bed, and discovered that Hubby had forgotten to close the shed door and Duff (that's the big outdoor dog) who has been having trouble with the back door trots, had gotten into a bag of garbage and there was garbage everywhere. I gingerly stepped over the garbage and thought Hubby can clean this up since he left the door open. Just then two chickens tried to scurry past but in their panic they slammed into my legs in a last ditch effort to reach the safety of the outdoors beyond my legs. All I could think was, "Great! Chicken poo on everything." But as luck should have it I must have caught them early enough that there was no chicken poo to clean up except for one blob by the door. (I knew they were up to something).
Back in the loonie bin... uuuh... I mean house, everyone was up as Hubby had started to sing in a falsetto voice very loud, "Oh What A Beautiful Morning"!!!! I gave a sigh and started getting breakfast. Daughter #2 came down first with a big smile as she had been anticipating the first day of school and couldn't wait to get there so she could see all her friends again. Then Hubby came down and started annoying everyone who was up.... last came Daughter #1 with a sour look on her face and the worst possible cloths on. She had on jeans the were too small and showed the crack of her hind quarters and an old jacket the didn't meet the top of her jeans and had a stain on one boob. Her head looked like it had never seen a comb. Ok... how to bring up the topic of her appearance without having all hell break loose???
Mom: "Um sweetheart, you are not wearing those jeans to school and your top is dirty. Where's the nice new clothes I bought you last spring?"
Daughter #1: You never bought me any pants... just culottes. I'm not wearing culottes to school."
Mom: "I thought I had bought you nice pants! And I know I bought you nice tops."
Daughter #2: "Yeah she got you that nice red one... I'll lend you some jeans or pants if you want."
Daughter #1: "grunt!"
Breakfast was eaten with a barrage of conversation about the nasty dreams they had all had about the first day of school. I only wished I had slept at all... which I didn't by the way. (certainly to God the werewolf thing should be over by now... we are almost at half a moon!) Finally we got Daughter #1 sorted out with her clothes... and she is right. She does need some jeans. One more thing that I have to put on my list of things to get. Argh!
We went out on "My Deck" and took the obligatory first day of school pictures and everyone put on false smiles.... and then we headed off to town. Here's what they look like...
Afterwards I asked the girls to pose the way that wanted to that would show how they felt about the first day of school. Here are those pictures....
When we got to the school, Hubby gave me a kiss and headed into work. Daughter #2 gave me a kiss and headed off to stand by the door until the school door opened. I saw her as I pulled away towering over all the elementary kids. Looking very grown up. Daughter #1 gave me a kiss and said, "Mom, should I take my binder with me or just leave it behind? We aren't going to need it today since it is just a half day."
At this point I realized that Daughter #1 was nervous. You see, this was the first day for her entering the high school end of the school. She didn't really know what was ahead and she was looking for a way to prolong her life in a safe zone (our truck) before stepping off the abyss into a world of the unknown. Daughter #1 has never been the most adventuresome kid on the block and so just changing the entry which you go into the school and having a different way of doing things has the power to overwhelm her.
I gave her a hug and said, "take your binder it will give you something to do with your hands while you wait and then when they assign you a locker you can leave it there and that's one less thing you have to take with you tomorrow". She got out of the truck squared her shoulders and, I called out as she walked away... "Have a good day." I pulled away from the curb and as I drove away I saw a lovely young lady with black dress pants and a red top holding her binders under her arm enter the front door of the school and thought I can't believe my little girl is so grown up.
Why can't I stop them from getting any older, and from growing up..... it's just not fair!
When I returned to pick them up later in the morning, Daughter #2 was still towering over everyone in the elementary end.... she is starting to tower over everyone in the whole school. She looks very grown up but at least she still acts like a kid.
Hubby was grinning as usual. I think he is looking forward to getting back to the grind as 'renovations' has become his new dirty word.
Daughter #1 was opening her locker.... and helping her friend open hers since she was having trouble. I asked her how it all went and she looked at me very disdainfully, "Mom, you worry too much. It was fine... except I have to have gym class with my sister."
I thought if that's the worse thing that could happen then I can breathe a sigh of relief.
I hope they will do me proud. Most important of all is that I come through this with well adjusted, happy girls. Of course 'As' are always welcome too.
I wish I could have had the camera close though because I will never forget the image of that tall girl by the entry door towering over the little kids and the lovely young lady in red with the binders under her arm, getting the door held open for her by some fellow with a back pack slung over his shoulder.
Where did my little girls go?
The day started with it's normal fiasco self. I had to go to the shed to find something for Daughter #1, who was having difficulty getting herself motivated to get out of bed, and discovered that Hubby had forgotten to close the shed door and Duff (that's the big outdoor dog) who has been having trouble with the back door trots, had gotten into a bag of garbage and there was garbage everywhere. I gingerly stepped over the garbage and thought Hubby can clean this up since he left the door open. Just then two chickens tried to scurry past but in their panic they slammed into my legs in a last ditch effort to reach the safety of the outdoors beyond my legs. All I could think was, "Great! Chicken poo on everything." But as luck should have it I must have caught them early enough that there was no chicken poo to clean up except for one blob by the door. (I knew they were up to something).
Back in the loonie bin... uuuh... I mean house, everyone was up as Hubby had started to sing in a falsetto voice very loud, "Oh What A Beautiful Morning"!!!! I gave a sigh and started getting breakfast. Daughter #2 came down first with a big smile as she had been anticipating the first day of school and couldn't wait to get there so she could see all her friends again. Then Hubby came down and started annoying everyone who was up.... last came Daughter #1 with a sour look on her face and the worst possible cloths on. She had on jeans the were too small and showed the crack of her hind quarters and an old jacket the didn't meet the top of her jeans and had a stain on one boob. Her head looked like it had never seen a comb. Ok... how to bring up the topic of her appearance without having all hell break loose???
Mom: "Um sweetheart, you are not wearing those jeans to school and your top is dirty. Where's the nice new clothes I bought you last spring?"
Daughter #1: You never bought me any pants... just culottes. I'm not wearing culottes to school."
Mom: "I thought I had bought you nice pants! And I know I bought you nice tops."
Daughter #2: "Yeah she got you that nice red one... I'll lend you some jeans or pants if you want."
Daughter #1: "grunt!"
Breakfast was eaten with a barrage of conversation about the nasty dreams they had all had about the first day of school. I only wished I had slept at all... which I didn't by the way. (certainly to God the werewolf thing should be over by now... we are almost at half a moon!) Finally we got Daughter #1 sorted out with her clothes... and she is right. She does need some jeans. One more thing that I have to put on my list of things to get. Argh!
We went out on "My Deck" and took the obligatory first day of school pictures and everyone put on false smiles.... and then we headed off to town. Here's what they look like...
Afterwards I asked the girls to pose the way that wanted to that would show how they felt about the first day of school. Here are those pictures....
When we got to the school, Hubby gave me a kiss and headed into work. Daughter #2 gave me a kiss and headed off to stand by the door until the school door opened. I saw her as I pulled away towering over all the elementary kids. Looking very grown up. Daughter #1 gave me a kiss and said, "Mom, should I take my binder with me or just leave it behind? We aren't going to need it today since it is just a half day."
At this point I realized that Daughter #1 was nervous. You see, this was the first day for her entering the high school end of the school. She didn't really know what was ahead and she was looking for a way to prolong her life in a safe zone (our truck) before stepping off the abyss into a world of the unknown. Daughter #1 has never been the most adventuresome kid on the block and so just changing the entry which you go into the school and having a different way of doing things has the power to overwhelm her.
I gave her a hug and said, "take your binder it will give you something to do with your hands while you wait and then when they assign you a locker you can leave it there and that's one less thing you have to take with you tomorrow". She got out of the truck squared her shoulders and, I called out as she walked away... "Have a good day." I pulled away from the curb and as I drove away I saw a lovely young lady with black dress pants and a red top holding her binders under her arm enter the front door of the school and thought I can't believe my little girl is so grown up.
Why can't I stop them from getting any older, and from growing up..... it's just not fair!
When I returned to pick them up later in the morning, Daughter #2 was still towering over everyone in the elementary end.... she is starting to tower over everyone in the whole school. She looks very grown up but at least she still acts like a kid.
Hubby was grinning as usual. I think he is looking forward to getting back to the grind as 'renovations' has become his new dirty word.
Daughter #1 was opening her locker.... and helping her friend open hers since she was having trouble. I asked her how it all went and she looked at me very disdainfully, "Mom, you worry too much. It was fine... except I have to have gym class with my sister."
I thought if that's the worse thing that could happen then I can breathe a sigh of relief.
I hope they will do me proud. Most important of all is that I come through this with well adjusted, happy girls. Of course 'As' are always welcome too.
I wish I could have had the camera close though because I will never forget the image of that tall girl by the entry door towering over the little kids and the lovely young lady in red with the binders under her arm, getting the door held open for her by some fellow with a back pack slung over his shoulder.
Where did my little girls go?
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