My Sweetheart enjoys spoiling me with gifts, among other things. He is a giver in the truest sense. But what he gave me this week isn't really appreciated by me. He gave me his cold. I'm glad he didn't give me the worst of his cold - he was feeling pretty bad there for a few days; but he gave me a bad enough chunk of it that kept me in bed most of the afternoon.
I hate feeling like my eyes have shrivelled up like raisins and have recessed into the farthest back part of my head as possible. I also hate feeling like my nose is out to there. Way out to there. And I hate feeling like every breath I take will produce hacking coughs. And shivering in the bathtub is no fun either. But it's part of the whole cold thing.
And what a day to have it. The sun is shining beautifully. It would have been a great day to have been outdoors puttering in my garden boxes, cleaning them out, stuff like that. But I stayed in bed. Bentley and Chico kept me company. They do that when I'm sick. Only me though. They don't keep anyone else company when they're sick.
But I hated being in bed. So I got up, put on a jacket, grabbed the leashes (I need to leash the dogs when there's too much mud - it's easier to manuever them around the muddy spots) and took the dogs for a walk in the sunshine. The road was dry, so the walk was lovely. My head felt even somewhat cleared when we came back inside.
Darling Daughter, with just a little help from me, prepared supper - delicious - and cleaned up. Dear Son is picking out a movie for us to watch tonight. My Sweetheart is IN for the evening!
So, sniffles aside, I am going to enjoy the rest of the day with my dear family!
Lady and the Cats
bonding on the farm!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Marvel of Technology
I am a passenger in the car. My Sweetheart is driving. We are on our way to our closest city to hopefully get a different cell phone for me. My cell will not hold a charge. And this morning it won't even turn on. So off we go!
And as we're travelling I am writing this on my blog. I have the mi-fi along so I'll see if I have internet access all the way to the city. Who would have thought!
We can talk to a friend in New Zealand, if we want, while driving in Saskatchewan. Well, my Sweetheart can't talk 'cause he's driving; but if I got the urge I would just borrow his cell phone and - voila! I find that mind boggling!
I might even check out my facebook page while being driven to the city and chat with a friend online. Maybe my friend in New York, or my cousin in Panama, or her brother in Ontario, or even my brother in Ontario. Chatting while in the vehicle. Isn't that something?
I am amazed with technology. I don't understand it at all, but I am still amazed.
And as we're travelling I am writing this on my blog. I have the mi-fi along so I'll see if I have internet access all the way to the city. Who would have thought!
We can talk to a friend in New Zealand, if we want, while driving in Saskatchewan. Well, my Sweetheart can't talk 'cause he's driving; but if I got the urge I would just borrow his cell phone and - voila! I find that mind boggling!
I might even check out my facebook page while being driven to the city and chat with a friend online. Maybe my friend in New York, or my cousin in Panama, or her brother in Ontario, or even my brother in Ontario. Chatting while in the vehicle. Isn't that something?
I am amazed with technology. I don't understand it at all, but I am still amazed.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Typical Spring Day
Today has been a typical spring day for us here on the farm. Nothing spectular. Just our life going on.
My Sweetheart spent the better part of his day at a farmer thing in town. Chemical reps were there. Quite a few farmers were there. Spraying was discussed. Farming practices were likely chewed over and mulled over. Lunch was served. There were draws - My Sweetheart came home with a prize and a new farmer cap and a head full of more knowledge. Typical farm meeting. Not too interesting to me. But interesting enough because farming is our livelihood.
DD and DS spent the day at school. As usual, when questioned when they came home, they didn't learn much. And nothing was new and exciting.
I spent the morning vacuuming and washing the dirty pawed floor. Bentley and Chico spent part of their morning prior to that exploring mud. I did a few loads of laundry. Tidied up the kitchen. Ate. Went into town for Praying Moms. Back home to let the dogs out so I could clean up some more mud. Messed up the kitchen while making supper, tidied up again. This time with a twist. My Dear Son washed the floor after the dogs after supper. They got really muddy this time. Bentley had to have his feet washed in the porch. Dear Daughter had to go retrieve Chico from being stuck in the ditch. She (the dog) was muddy. Much like cement up to her shoulders. She was pre-washed in the utility room sink, then bathed in the bathtub. That was going on while DS was mopping and I was doing dishes then cleaning out the mud from the utility room sink.
Darling Daughter is now making cookies. Dear Son is, I think, working on math. My Sweetheart is outside puttering. He and DS worked on the car after school. Now, after supper, he is happily working outside. Finally. It's been a long winter. Spring appears to be here now. And with it the typical stuff that always needs to be done.
And we are happy to be doing it. And we are happy for the lovely spring day that we've been blessed with to do our typical spring stuff.
My Sweetheart spent the better part of his day at a farmer thing in town. Chemical reps were there. Quite a few farmers were there. Spraying was discussed. Farming practices were likely chewed over and mulled over. Lunch was served. There were draws - My Sweetheart came home with a prize and a new farmer cap and a head full of more knowledge. Typical farm meeting. Not too interesting to me. But interesting enough because farming is our livelihood.
DD and DS spent the day at school. As usual, when questioned when they came home, they didn't learn much. And nothing was new and exciting.
I spent the morning vacuuming and washing the dirty pawed floor. Bentley and Chico spent part of their morning prior to that exploring mud. I did a few loads of laundry. Tidied up the kitchen. Ate. Went into town for Praying Moms. Back home to let the dogs out so I could clean up some more mud. Messed up the kitchen while making supper, tidied up again. This time with a twist. My Dear Son washed the floor after the dogs after supper. They got really muddy this time. Bentley had to have his feet washed in the porch. Dear Daughter had to go retrieve Chico from being stuck in the ditch. She (the dog) was muddy. Much like cement up to her shoulders. She was pre-washed in the utility room sink, then bathed in the bathtub. That was going on while DS was mopping and I was doing dishes then cleaning out the mud from the utility room sink.
Darling Daughter is now making cookies. Dear Son is, I think, working on math. My Sweetheart is outside puttering. He and DS worked on the car after school. Now, after supper, he is happily working outside. Finally. It's been a long winter. Spring appears to be here now. And with it the typical stuff that always needs to be done.
And we are happy to be doing it. And we are happy for the lovely spring day that we've been blessed with to do our typical spring stuff.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Are We Becoming Desensitized?
In the summer of 1975, 4 children were murdered in Saskatoon. Serial murders. I was 11 at the time, and horrified beyond belief that someone could do this to people my age in my safe prairie province. Saskatoon was only 180 miles, roughly, from where I lived. I couldn't sleep. I was scared. I hated the news - up until that point in my life that was the worst news I had ever heard. Was I sheltered? Or was I being sheltered?
My guess is that most parents of young children back then would protect their children from hearing of such tragedy. The news people were wise not to show images on tv anyway.
Today I was at a school assembly only because I was accompanying the grades 8's and 9's for a song they were going to sing. Ironically the song they were going to sing was about love, somewhat. And they sang at the very end of the school assembly - the assembly of all students Kindergarten to grade 12. But, why I said, 'ironically' was because shortly before they sang, 1 of the high school girls, with great passion and a real proponent of social justice, was given the opportunity to present to the student body, and teachers, a video of a concern that is near and dear to her heart. Part of the video presentation - the good part - was about how these child soldiers, when they escape, are given help. But the part of the presentation that irked me was the video of the murdered. The maimed. Disgusting pictures. Horrifying actually. And I was watching the elementary kids - the little kindergartners too - watch it. Was this age-appropriate. No.
I turned back - I was sitting in the back row- to where some of the teachers were standing and mouthed my dissastisfaction.
Finally, the principal went up and the video was cut short- not short enough - and that was that. Or was it?
Will the little people go to bed and sleep peacefully tonight if the images of what they saw haunt them? Or, maybe, they watch images like that all the time on their televisions. I hope not.
Are we raising a generation of desensitized children? I hope we don't. And I hope that those of us who are concerned will do something about it.
My guess is that most parents of young children back then would protect their children from hearing of such tragedy. The news people were wise not to show images on tv anyway.
Today I was at a school assembly only because I was accompanying the grades 8's and 9's for a song they were going to sing. Ironically the song they were going to sing was about love, somewhat. And they sang at the very end of the school assembly - the assembly of all students Kindergarten to grade 12. But, why I said, 'ironically' was because shortly before they sang, 1 of the high school girls, with great passion and a real proponent of social justice, was given the opportunity to present to the student body, and teachers, a video of a concern that is near and dear to her heart. Part of the video presentation - the good part - was about how these child soldiers, when they escape, are given help. But the part of the presentation that irked me was the video of the murdered. The maimed. Disgusting pictures. Horrifying actually. And I was watching the elementary kids - the little kindergartners too - watch it. Was this age-appropriate. No.
I turned back - I was sitting in the back row- to where some of the teachers were standing and mouthed my dissastisfaction.
Finally, the principal went up and the video was cut short- not short enough - and that was that. Or was it?
Will the little people go to bed and sleep peacefully tonight if the images of what they saw haunt them? Or, maybe, they watch images like that all the time on their televisions. I hope not.
Are we raising a generation of desensitized children? I hope we don't. And I hope that those of us who are concerned will do something about it.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Week in Review
Ah, it's Sunday. Again. What's different about today though is that it doesn't seem like the week-end. And for Darling Daughter and Dear Son it's not really the weekend. Tomorrow is a day off from school! And that's why it doesn't seem like a weekend.
As I'm thinking about the week that was I am again thankful for many blessings. So, to add to my list here are the next 10!
81. safety on the #1 hwy again. My Sweetheart and I made another trek to Regina, this time for a medical appointment. The highway was horrible, icy, but we made it there and back safely!
82.Good news from the surgeon - I'm operationable in about 3 months and I am so excited! More about that in another blog - don't ask!
83.The youth group - we were fortunate to host 18 of them here Friday night for the tail end of their progressive supper - we provided snacks and a movie! A great group of young people!
84.T & K - the youth group leaders! I am so very thankful for you! Thank you for loving our teens!
85.I am thankful for good nutritious healthy food.
86. I am thankful for a wonderfully supportive family who has come alongside with me, and are willing to eat healthy!
87. I am thankful for the beautiful scenery I woke up to today!
88. I am thankful for good books - I am reading 1 right now, entitled 'a time to mend' by Sally John and Gary Smalley.
89. I am thankful for the friends our teens have.
90. I am thankful that My Sweetheart and I have a great relationship.
As I'm thinking about the week that was I am again thankful for many blessings. So, to add to my list here are the next 10!
81. safety on the #1 hwy again. My Sweetheart and I made another trek to Regina, this time for a medical appointment. The highway was horrible, icy, but we made it there and back safely!
82.Good news from the surgeon - I'm operationable in about 3 months and I am so excited! More about that in another blog - don't ask!
83.The youth group - we were fortunate to host 18 of them here Friday night for the tail end of their progressive supper - we provided snacks and a movie! A great group of young people!
84.T & K - the youth group leaders! I am so very thankful for you! Thank you for loving our teens!
85.I am thankful for good nutritious healthy food.
86. I am thankful for a wonderfully supportive family who has come alongside with me, and are willing to eat healthy!
87. I am thankful for the beautiful scenery I woke up to today!
88. I am thankful for good books - I am reading 1 right now, entitled 'a time to mend' by Sally John and Gary Smalley.
89. I am thankful for the friends our teens have.
90. I am thankful that My Sweetheart and I have a great relationship.
The Icing on the Cake
Bentley woke me up at 8:00 am. He needed to go out, right now! So I grabbed my housecoat, retrieved my slippers from Chico (she sleeps with them and uses them for either a pillow or a cuddle toy) and headed to the porch. I opened the door to let the dogs out and immediately grabbed my winter outerwear and camera and ventured outside myself. This is why...
beauty was waiting to be captured and enjoyed!
this is looking off our deck, just south of the house where our fire pit, patio, and garden boxes are. oh, looks like Bentley is there too! My little garden shed is nestled between the hedges.
Even the kitty appears to be enjoying the snowy scenery from the deck!
Chico is thinking that there is too much snow.
Looking down the laneway. Don't the trees look beautiful?
Looks like frosting on the trees...
The picture just doesn't convey exactly how lovely the hedge looks this morning. And I wish you could hear the birds singing as they were when I was outside.
This is not the original snowman that DD made last week, but rather the resurrected snowman that she quickly brought back to snowman life yesterday afternoon. He accumulated lots more snow after coming back from the puddle!
this is the tree that shades our deck in the summertime!
This is a beautiful morning. The sun is shining warmly. The temperature is rising. The snow will be gone soon. Hopefully it will disappear until late autumn. We are praying for good weather and a good seeding season. Until then I will continue to look for beauty and to sometimes be surprised with the beauty I wake up to!
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Looking Up
Right now I wish this was late October or early November. The time of year when the harvest has been gathered in, the geese are maybe flying overhead, the yard is tidy, waiting for winter. It seems like it should be late fall, or early winter because it is snowing. It's been snowing all day long. We have been under a snowfall warning, along with southern Alberta and, I think, southern Manitoba. The temperature has been very mild, so the snow has been melting all day long. And right now our yard looks like soupy muck. It doesn't look pretty at all. That is if you're looking down at the ground. But, if you're looking up at the trees, it is beautiful. The thick, heavy snow is sticking to the trees. We have plenty of evergreens and they are breathtakingly beautiful right now.
Looking downward I see ugliness. Looking upward I see beauty. This is a reminder for me to always look up - up to see the glory of God in His magnificent creation; and a reminder to offer prayers and thanksgiving up to Him at all times.
Looking downward I see ugliness. Looking upward I see beauty. This is a reminder for me to always look up - up to see the glory of God in His magnificent creation; and a reminder to offer prayers and thanksgiving up to Him at all times.
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