The best part of country living....

.....it's the almost daily sighting of wonderful wildlife.

Here is a pic of the turkey family off the front porch. We have watched the little ones grow all summer -- quite amazing. We see them every morning and Lu loves it.. she counts the turkeys and laughs when they stretch their wings and is in awe when they zip for cover. But we want to keep them safe. It has been a long time since we have had wildlife stake home in the property - years ago we had a family of foxes... then for a few years we had many close encounters with skunks (I still have an emergency can of tomato juice in the cupboard), coyotes, deer, tons of raccoons... but by far the turkeys have been the most gentle and inspiring to watch. I hope they come back next year with a whole new pack of poults to raise!

Gone Sailing

Finally... summer is here. After a number of false starts this season.... the warmer weather has arrived and it looks like it is going to stay!
So because we have put up with rain and more rain and cooler temperatures.... our sailing season also got off to a slow start. We are now making up for lost time! After spending our vacation, afloat, in July... we have also spent pretty well every weekend on board. This weekend will be no different. But I had to promise the husband that I would not overpack as I usually do. But I think it is because he just doesn't get it.

When the husband boards our sailboat.. he goes from a suit wearing guy to a crusty old, sea worn sailor.... he keeps some clothes on board -- which really need to be washed .. and those are the clothes he will wear all weekend. Fashion be damned! Men are lucky I say!!

Meanwhile... if I go to the beach with Lu.. I need the bathing suit (eww) and a cover up to walk over with; I need an evening outfit in case we decide to go for dinner one night; I need some cooler clothes because it does get a little chilly on the lake once the sun goes down; I need my pjs, I need my 'walk-to-the-farmers-market-for-coffee" outfit; I need some actual under sail outfits; and maybe an extra outfit... just in case!

Ok.. I know that sounds like a lot for one weekend... but I would rather be well prepared for anything and anyone (who knows who we may run into -- or invite aboard for drinks). So I have to be prepared. Or else I could just borrow those crusty shorts that the husband has stored under the v-berth .. or then again.. maybe not and I'll take the wrath of being overpacked once again!

Happy Sailing....

Barefoot Days

I love going barefoot. It is the greatest feeling in the world. I would forgo shoes forever if I could(I know.. GASP!)... but alas, I do need to go into town sometimes and to some pretty well-worn spots that do require shoes and a good scrub and sanitization afterward!

But being at home... wandering the back field with Lu, in search of raspberries and the occasional ant hill (endless entertainment)... I've gotta be barefoot. You feel so free and strong without having to wear shoes and I can walk and walk and walk without a misstep or mishap! Sure I run the risk of stepping in some form of animal poo, or a stinging insect or something far worse... but I have yet to come across anything I couldn't handle. I am knocking on wood right now to ensure fate doesn't change my plans during my barefoot walk tomorrow.

But for now, I am shoeless and enjoying the freedom.

I've lost my running mojo

Please help me get my running mojo back...
I used to love running. I was never the best, or most adept, or fastest or most eager.... but I enjoyed the freedom and the exercise and how it cleared my mind after a busy day.
I loved listening to my footfalls on the compact earth of the forest floor and how I was so utterly alone in my little world, except for my two constant companions - Angus and Chelsea. We would scare a lone white tailed deer at the cross roads, or happen upon a mother fox with kits in tow, or marvel at the sunshine dappling through the majestic trees - there was always something new and wonderful to breathe in.

After the birth of Lu -- it took me awhile to get back into running. I bought a mid-size jogging stroller and counted the weeks until Lu was big enough to ride the rough terrain. The husband and I started out early spring of Lu's first year... and it was a struggle for me... with an extra 30 plus pounds still nagging at my once fit frame. Now mind you.. it was a nice outing -- to be out again and with the whole family. But after 10 mins.. I was done. That was it. It was no longer fun. I persevered for the remainder of the month and the joy quickly vanished. I had better things to do with my life!

By year two of Lu's life I had rejoined the gym and still had no intentions of dusting off my trail runners. So there they sat for another 6 months until I have now forced myself to remember the beauty and inspiration that running lent me.

I have had a number of false starts this year. I'll feel good and go for a run... and then something always comes up and the week is gone and I figure.. what's the use of running once?? Then another month would pass and I would hit the trail again, only to be disappointed with my pathetic progress. So I quit.

But finally, earlier this week, I went for a run and it was great. I wasn't staring at my watch, willing it to move forward as quickly as possible, I wasn't finding an excuse to stop. I just ran. And it felt great. I hope my running mojo is back... because it is a heck of a lot cheaper than joining the gym!

A Wedding

My Cousin got hitched on the weekend. It was such a lovely setting.. the backdrop was a historic red barn, surrounded by endless fields of corn, wheat, clover and fruit trees. The intimate ceremony took place at the water's edge.
Lu was the flower girl. A cute little boy in a kilt two-sizes too big was the ring bearer.

Ok.. one down -- three more summer weddings to go!

Are we going to sort things out?

So after a very tense week... and with the husband gone for a couple of times -- we have finally waved white flags at each other over e-mail. Not the best way... but it had to be done.

He is home tonight. We both need to discuss all this crap that has been going on between us. Not fun. Not looking forward to it. But I guess it must be done.

I want to air some grievances... but also don't want to bring up anything that will cause a wider gap between us. Oh what to do. I am kind of going to wing it when the time comes. I have some key points I wish to discuss. We shall see. But we definitely need to clear the air.

On a happier note.. here are just a few very funny and may I say, sophisticated things that little Lu has said recently:

The other day she put her hand in my mouth.. so I gently bit down on it (very gently -- not hard) and she said... "Ouch mommy.. I'm not a cracker...!!"

Today after lunch she just said... mommy can I look at your watch for a second... so I said.. sure.... she looks at it and says "Oh.. it's chocolate time!!!"

Back from vacation

We are back from vacation. Had a lovely time. Although am now getting the silent treatment from hubby -- don't know why... other than I made a comment about his snoring... which keeps me awake... and the fact that he wakes so early and stomps around in the morning.. which wakes myself and Lu up well before we are ready....

I am happy to wake up by 6:30 -- 7am is perfect.. but 6:30 I can do. Anything earlier and I am a mess... as is Lu. So is it so unreasonable to scoff at Mr. Morning Heavyfoot?

So much for happy holiday memories!