Countdown to Christmas

Ok... aside from the stray kitten who showed up at our door a week and a half ago... life has been pretty busy with christmas preparations, parties and other mundane stuff (work, housework, etc.)... but this month seems to be flying by and I am not ready for the big day!!!

It almost seems like December 25th is going to be here any minute and I just don't feel quite ready yet!!
We put up the tree this past weekend and Lu did a great job of helping me put up the decorations; the tree looks pretty good if I dare say so! I have most of the indoor decorations done and am almost finished with outdoor swag and lighting. And best of all... we had our first snowfall of the season... and it was the perfect kind of snowfall.. nice big, fat flakes floating gently coating trees, the road, our lawn, gardens and cars with a good amount of fluffy whiteness. The weather is still fairly mild so you can get out and enjoy the snow and revel in its purity and confirmation that the seasons have indeed change.

Shopping is almost complete; except for a few odds and ends... did most of my shopping online at LLBean and MEC (free shipping from both - -yeah!)

Christmas party invitations have been arriving fast and furious. We have already attended a number, with many more to come... specifically the Northumberland Women's Business Network (www.northumberlandwbn.com) Christmas Gala, which takes place tomorrow evening... am really looking forward to it!

But for now.. it is back to work... and the kitten is crawling all over me... and Lu is calling me from her bedroom because she forgot her favourite blankie.... and the husband has forgotten that it is his turn to clean the litter box... so I better gently remind him!

The Pursuit of a Good School

One of the downsides of living in the country is that you don't have access to all the great schools. Well.. we do.. we just have to drive and drive and drive. We are doing that right now though with Lu's preschool... she goes into town with daddy 3 x a week for preschool.. and I am on stand by to pick up/drop off when the husband isn't available. So far it has worked out pretty well.

But Lu starts Junior Kindergarten September 2010. I know.. wow... where has the time gone? But we are on a mad dash to get her into a school we feel will be best for her. Our local country school will do in a pinch... but not sure if we are 100% happy with Lu attending; mainly due to the potential school mates she would have -- not of the best gene selection! (I know that is awful, but is sometimes true when living in the country!). Now mind you, our local school is undergoing a new build. So starting in September 2010 there will be a brand new school -- which potentially means new opportunities, new teachers, new enthusiasm. But we aren't quite sure yet, although is still an honest back up.

What we would prefer is for Lu to either go to the school where she is presently attending preschool.. or to the only French Immersion school in the area. Again... we would be committed to a lot of driving...but considering this is Lu's education I guess it is a small sacrifice to make!

A Perfect Fall Day

It is already the second week of November and the weather is still incredible; warm, sunny and beautiful!
I wish it could just stay this way... but alas... one of these days winter will arrive with all its cold, bitter, snowy attributes!

Today I took a little break from work -- I have been busy for months and haven't had much of a breather so I quite happily accomplished a little bit of filing this morning and then took to the out of doors. Chelsea and I went for a walk (Lu is at preschool today) and we cut down some dog wood for festive exterior decorating. I love the look of dog wood and cedar mixed together in outdoor urns -- just lovely! Next on the agenda - I actually washed some of the windows on the outside -- too many to complete in one day... but I was able to clean off some summer grime on a number of windows... finally.

I will be leaving shortly to pick up Lu from school... then we are heading right to the gym. I am trying to stay on track with my fitness plan and unfortunately that means that this week poor Lu gets dragged to the gym with me. But she does enjoy going. There are lots of crafts to do in the play centre, so I know she has a good time. I just feel badly taking her in the evening because lately she has been coming home from preschool so exhausted. But I figure if we get there early... we can get home early. That is my plan at least.

Tomorrow Lu and I will attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony. I never miss a ceremony... I think it is too important to miss - lest we forget.

We MISS you Dear Angus

My beloved Angus. I miss him terribly. We were together for 15 years and were inseparable.

I knew the day would come. I knew it would be brutally hard; and truth be told... it is still brutally hard one year later.

We miss you Little Buddy. I miss your soft, silky fur and your expressive eyes. I miss how you loved to chase squirrels, frisbees, sticks, ducks and wheelbarrow wheels. I miss your slightly intense nature but loved the fact that in your eyes -- I was the best and only person alive on the planet.

How you loved when we went biking and hiking, or roller blading at midnight when we all lived in Kingston. You loved to snuggle in bed with us and you always positioned yourself close by -- whichever room we were in -- you were there to protect us.

Even though you were part Border Collie - you were deathly afraid of sheep (but that is our little secret). You loved your neck massaged, your belly rubbed and you just loved being with us; it made you feel secure and loved.

We spent virtually every single day together from when you were a mere 8 weeks old. You were by far the cutest puppy, the best companion and most loving senior dog in the world.

A part of me died with you last year. I will always remember you and love you.

Say hello to Tiamo for us.

We miss you dear Angus. Life is not the same....

An Autumn Walk

We went for a walk in the forest to enjoy the fall colours. Lu loves walking Chelsea, so we let the two of them run along ahead of us - bounding down the trail, stopping occasionally to peer down a hole, or in a rotted tree stump, way up a tree and under dead fall. The walk was lovely, although a little damp -- but I think the dampness added to the intensity of the fall colours.

We collected leaves along the way; brilliant reds, intense golds, bright orange and various combinations of all. We also identified mushrooms and fungi, woodpecker holes, seedlings and possible faerie homes. Lu swears she saw a faery when she had bent down to take a closer look at some foliage... I am going to believe her... because you just never know!

Can't find @%!!@! Jeans to Fit the Kid!

What is it with kid's jeans? Shouldn't they all come with elastic waist-bands until .. hmmm.. I don't know -- puberty maybe - when girls start to get curves and jeans can stay in place.

It is frustrating because I love the look of cute, little appliqued jeans on cute, little tousle-haired girls. But I guess that won't be happening anytime soon because if pants don't fit Lu perfectly then she can't wear them; or as she says "they are too fitting.." (whatever that means!).

But in my quest to get Lu out of her usual wardrobe of frilly, pink princess dresses I thought I would buy some jeans. I have brought a couple of styles, brands and sizes home.. but they won't stay up on her tiny, lanky bod -- which causes her to stomp around, fists clenched around gaping waist-band, curly, blonde hair framing her intense blue eyes as she cries: "I want new pants!!!" But wait I say, let me get this ribbon and fashion you a belt... yet all the belt does is dig into her cute tummy and cause the waist-band to gape even further.

Ok.. I give up. Why should it be so difficult to find jeans for a 3 year old?

Summer is Over!

I am probably one of the few people who will admit this: but I am glad to see the end of summer. Goodbye - farewell -- good riddance!

Ok... I do enjoy the warm weather (not too warm though!), and the everlasting sunny days and all the fun things you can do in the summer, but I hate the bugs and humidity and the clothing more! I do... the mosquitos and other biting insects take over our out of doors for July and August, which means you have to drench yourself in bug spray to go outside - not fun with a three year old in tow! I also can't take the severe heat. Luckily we didn't have a lot of hot, hot days this summer... but there were a few smoldering and humid days that rendered me a sweaty, frizzy-haired, incapacitated, fried, overheated mess! It sucked and I am glad those dog days are gone!

Bring on autumn I say! I can wear jeans again, and my funky shoes and fun sweaters. I can get out hiking and admire the lovely fall colours. There is also something wonderful in the air -- the way it smells, the way it blows the leaves off the trees and the way it ushers one season into another -- just perfect!