Am I Being Selfish?

If you are wondering about the Kansas thing, it is still a real possibility. Actually, more than just a possibility. They are just down to crunching numbers.
For my husband's sake I really really hope that it all works out. It would be great for his career, most likely fantastic for his psyche, not to mention his overall health. By health I mean because he won't have to eat 3 meals a day at restaurants, two weeks of the month.
Still, there is a part of me that just wants to stay. Stay where I am. Stay where it is familiar. Stay where everything stays the same. Am I just afraid? Am I just nervous? Or am I being selfish?
In my old Christian days, I would have just let him decide as he is the head of the house. Now that I am beyond that, or maybe just older and wiser, I want to have my say. I want to have it my way. Ugghhhh! Totally torn. In the morning I am all excited about the possibilities and in the evening... not so much. I know I will miss my daughters and my three sweet little granddaughters. I also know that my 4 year old will be just fine. So will I. So will we. So what is with me?????

Holy Mackerel!

I can't believe it has almost been a month since I wrote on this little blog. I would say that I have been way to busy to have been on the computer, but such is not the case.

Summer has finally arrived here in Delisle. In fact, it arrived last friday. Summer Solstice. I kick myself because I didn't celebrate the day like I planned. In fact that day was miserably hot and I got grumpy. Grumpy because I HATE being hot. We spent the entire day outside and my head began to ache more and more as the day went on. Finally Paul told me to go put my legs in the pool to cool off. I did, and lo and behold, I felt much better. Sounds like I would be an excellent candidate to live in Kansas hey?

Athena spent a good portion of the day in the water. I re-applied her sunblock I don't know how many times. Can't be too careful. Jill came by around dinner time and we had a wonderful meal. Actually, we had wonderful meals all weekend.Let me expand.

Friday night we had Tandoori Chicken Kebabs with Indian scented rice and Cauliflower with turmeric and cumin and some Naan bread. Oh my. I was in heaven. It was so good. We ate dinner on the deck.

Saturday night we ate Tilapia Piccata with Oven roasted potatoes and hmmm... what veg? I can't recall. We also had crostini with Baba Ganoush.

Sunday we ate grilled Steak with Mole Poblano rub, mushroom ragout, corn on the cob and grilled asparagus. Yum.

This week, Paul is away to Winnipeg so we don't eat quite so well.

He comes home Wednesday night only to fly out to Kansas for his final interview, Thursday morning. Back on the plane for sales meetings in Toronto tuesday morning. Canada Day if you can believe that.

About Kansas... we have all but decided if it all works out legally, we will be on our way. We are quite excited about the possibilities but on the flip side, we would be equally happy to stay. We finally have our back yard in shape, Paul's travel will be reduced as they hired a man for Manitoba and of course, the familiarity of life as we know it. It won't be long until we know.

On another note, I found out that I have to have a surgery this summer. I am on the urgent list so I hope to have it done soon, before we leave anyway. I am not sure about US health coverage and here in good old Saskatchewan, it is free. Free to me anyway. Someone somewhere is paying for it. ;)

I'll keep you all posted about our possible move and about my surgery too.

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures to feast your lovely eyes on.

Thanks everyone for the input on our possible move to Kansas. I was glad to hear your thoughts. We have almost decided that if all of the logistics work out, then we will be off. At least for a few years.

My dear husband has always had big career plans and with this job there is no exception. He has a timeline and a plan. My North Carolina sister told her husband that she was glad he "didn't have any ambition". Funny hey? But this man is already at the top of his game and is glad to stay there so I am sure there was a lot of ambition involved at one time. :)

Anyway, with thoughts of going to a new place bring thoughts of leaving another. I have been sitting on my deck in the evening just listening to the birds and the quiet. Going to sleep knowing that we are safe and secure. I seem to be more appreciative of the everyday, the ordinary. Just seeing Athena and her Dad relaxing on the hammock is wonderful to me. But, I must not forget, if we do go, Daddy will be home almost every night!!

Oh PS Athena thinks if she moves there she will be friends with Dorothy and Toto. :)

My one dread is breaking the news to one of my daughters. She will not be pleased.

I leave you with a few pictures from the weekend.

Pondering Big Changes

I live in Canada. I live in Saskatchewan. I have lived in Alberta twice in my lifetime. That is it. Canada is a wonderful country. Saskatchewan is a fantastic province. My small town is safe, quiet and just far enough away from Saskatoon. Life is good here. It always has been.

Now, my husband has be presented with a great opportunity in his career. An opportunity to teach. An opportunity to work 8 to 5 for the first time in our 25 year marriage. An opportunity that can quite possibly lead to a position for him in Denmark! How exciting would that be. Trouble is, this position is not in Canada. It is in the United States. In Kansas. Olathe, Kansas to be exact. That is far away. Far away from our 3 grown daughters and 3 baby granddaughters too.

On the up side. What a place for them to come and visit. What an adventure for us and our 4 year old daughter. What a great thing to have my husband home every night. Decisions, decisions.

I don't really know anything about life in the United States, save for that which my sister who lives in North Carolina tells me. Some good. Some not so good. Anybody have an opinion on this subject? Anyone? Anyone at all?

There are those who think little girls

should have long hair.

I beg to differ.

This little girl is so busy outside in the yard

and helping in the garden

that she hasn't the patience for hair

that is constantly in her face.

I agree with her.

(And... six bucks for a haircut isn't too hard to swallow either.)

Spring Frenzy

It is nesting time here in the Prairies.

It is especially crazy here in my back yard in Saskatchewan.

We have several pine trees that are upwards of 40ft tall,

lots of space for a nest you would think.

I don't know what the bird criteria is for a good nesting spot

but it is evidently the strongest in one of our 8 backyard trees.

There are bird fights galore. Lots of noise and activity.

In one tree we have 3 types of birds all building nests

A pair of Robins, Grackles(yuk!) and Mourning Doves

have all started to build.

We have other birds in other trees like a pair of Northern Flickers in one,

(Very exciting to us)

but that tree remains the most popular.

Kind of interesting.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

"Mommy, Mommy, my eyes have the power to make all things dark!"

Oh really? How is that?

"When I close them, everything is dark. When I open them, all is light again."

That is cool. Let me try.

"Nope, you don't have it. When you closed your eyes, I still saw light."

ANOTHER LUCKY BREAK FOR ME!!

This must be my lucky week. I just has to be. My new next door neighbours came to me while I was weeding my front flower beds. They told me they were going away for the weekend and that while they were away I could help myself to anything they had growing in their yard because next week they were taking everything out and putting grass over the entire thing. I couldn't believe it.

This morning, Athena and I scouted everything out and started to excavate. I got a total of 21 plants and could have had at least that many more but I haven't the room. Among these treasures was a John Davis climbing rose. Pink. My favorite color. Explorer roses, my favorite as well, (besides English roses, which don't winter very well here on the prairies). I also got a few peonies, 3 other rose bushes, some bleeding hearts, columbines, ferns, hen and chicks, and a few things I have never grown before. Amazing. I hope they transplant well.

GARDEN TIME

We have a big yard. Quite big in fact. Only trouble is it is filled with gigantic pine trees. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those trees. It is so nice to still see green in the dead of winter. Those trees saved our yard/house from some very damaging winds last summer as well. The only problem I have with them is that they shade my yard so a big organic garden is out of the question.
So... I put an ad up at the corner store (how rural does that sound?) asking if anyone in town had some garden space they were not planning to use. Today I got a call from an older gentleman saying he had some space for me. 5 ACRES!! It is just 10 minutes down the road. He had a rototiller and would set up some irrigation for me. All he would ask for in return is some cucumbers and potatoes. Can you believe this?
So of course I have been thinking most of the morning if I can actually do this. Of course I wouldn't want 5 acres but I could have the garden of my dreams. I could plant enough food for my little family of 3 and have plenty to spare for my 3 grown daughters and their families as well. It sounds so promising. I am excited just thinking about it. But then... there is the work that comes with it. Am I up to it? I am still struggling with my iron and all the tiredness that comes with it. What to do?

Earth Day At Our House

Last week, Athena and I were walking down the streets of our town. She spotted some pop cans and crumpled up candy wrappers on the road. She said "Mommy look! Someone is not caring for our earth." She started to bend down to pick up the garbage. I told her that I didn't want her to pick it up because she didn't have any gloves on and nor did we have a garbage bag with us. I told her it was Earth Day next week so on that day we would put on some gardening gloves, grab some trash bags and head out to clean up "our earth". Grand intentions. That day it was a warm spring day. Tomorrow, as you well know, is Earth Day. Problem is, our town is covered in a fine layer of snow and tomorrow more snow with a high of -2 C is forecast. Ughhh! Now I wonder if I should go with her anyway or not tell her it is Earth Day until it is a bit warmer. Hmmm.

In related news, our output of garbage has significantly lessened over the past month or so. I have been extra vigilant about the recycle. We have recycled every bit of cardboard and paper that we come across. We have always done cans and bottles but I really noticed a huge difference with this extra attention. Even empty toilet paper rolls make it to our bins now. This makes me happy. Another noticeable improvement was that I used the Diva Cup this month for the first time. I loved it! No waste (cuz I recycled the box). I didn't know how it would work out but I am a believer now. Most of my garbage is food scraps and peelings. If my husband weren't so opposed to compost bins I don't think we would have much to roll out on garbage day at all.

So, I'll let you know if we brave the elements to clean up our town or if I wimp out and do it another day. Happy Earth Day to you!

ME TIME

Some days I wish I could just run away. Not really, but it seems that I seldom find time to do the things that nourish my soul. I know that I have a 4 year old at home and that presents its challenges and I know that my husband travels more weeks in a month than I even want to think about but still... There are 24 hours in a day. I should be able to find some time for myself. Some days when Athena is in bed I just sit in the front room with a glass of wine, finish it off, shower and drop into bed, I'm just that tired. Anyway... what I want to know, I guess, is how do you find time for yourselves and what do you do with that time? What brings joy to your heart besides your husband and children? Do you even make time for yourself. I hold my breath waiting for your response.

HER SPRING ROBIN

Upon the recommendation of Jen, Athena and I checked out the book My Spring Robin from the library. It is a cute story about a little girl who is waiting for her spring robin to return in the spring. We have read and renewed this book several times. We have been looking for a robin to return for weeks. Yesterday I thought surely there should be robins back by now so we went for a long walk, hoping to find one. No luck.

This morning she came in to my bed quite early. Daddy is away on business so she had plenty of room. As we snuggled and talked a little bit I heard the unmistakable song. So did she. Yes, we heard a robin at last. We got up and got ready for the day. We rushed downstairs and looked out the patio doors. Lo and behold, right on the fence stood her spring robin. What a day to celebrate for a 4 year old. Now we will hear the robin's song all summer long. "Cheer up, cheerilee, Cheer up, cheerilee, Cheer up, cheerilee" Happy Day!

APRIL

April is upon us at last. What a wait it has been. Although I love winter, the last grey slushy weeks of it are not my fave. The winter I like is cold, snowy white, sparkly and crisp. I never know what to put on Athena when she goes outside. One day it is her snow suit and the next it is slush pants and rubber boots. But, alas, April is here.

Almost all of the snow is gone now, save for a few stubborn piles in the corners of the yard. The skies threaten rain but you never know in Saskatchewan. It could just as easily turn to snow. Nevertheless...

I thought I would share with you some wonderful new blogs that I have come across. Not that you don't read enough already. These blogs are all Stay-At-Home-Moms, like I am. Some are Waldorf families, some are Homeschoolers but all are Tree Huggers and Earth Lovers. All seem like wonderful women. So, if on a rainy April day, you have a few spare minutes (read:hours) be sure to check a few of them out.

Nature Mom

Green Style Mom

Renaissance Mama

Periwinkles and Pine

Mom in Madison

Also, April is National Poetry Month so I leave you with a short poem we probably all know by heart:

March winds and

April showers

Bring forth the

May flowers.

Spring Cleaning

Yes, it is that time of year again. Spring cleaning time is upon us. Boy do I need to clean my house. I have just begun to make a mental list of all I want to accomplish. It is a long one. Our basement looks like a disaster zone. My curtains in the front room have not been washed since we moved her almost 2 years ago. Horror! I just got an energy efficient front load washer and new dryer. Sparkling brilliant white. My laundry room however is a catch all for who knows what. We have wine to bottle, piles of recycle to haul into the city. Salvation Army donations piling up. The list goes on and on.

This week I plan to make a comprehensive list and compile my supplies. Dear Husband needs to paint the kitchen and the front room, not to mention the ceiling in both as well so some of my work will depend on his schedule. Other than that I am roaring to go. I want to have it all done before gardening season starts too.

Thank you Nature Mom for the banner and the motivation.

Earth Hour 2008

As any informed citizen already knows, Saturday March 29th was the day to mark Earth Hour. 8pm-9pm local time. Great idea. It started in Australia last year. Millions of people took part this year. The idea was to bring awareness to global warming. It worked. I have proof.

My husband is not the most environmentally friendly man around. He begrudges (albeit a little bit) my recycling, especially of cardboard. He says it takes up too much room in the garage and he doesn't like having to haul it all to the city. Yet this man was all for turning out the lights, turning off the furnace, unplugging the phones and the computers. It surprised me too.

We decided to have our Earth Hour at 7pm so our little girl could take part in it with us. We set a timer and at a few minutes to 7 we turned everything off and lit a plethora of candles all around the house. She had her bath by candlelight. We read books by the dim glow of her Mobi Tyke Lamp. She loved it!

At about 7:30pm my husband got a call to put out a fire so I was left alone. I poured a glass of wine and sat in the darkness at the kitchen table. As 8 o'clock came and went, I kept the lights off anyway. I took my wine and a few votives and headed to my piano. It was so nice just to sit in the candlelit room and play. I imagined all the great composers writing their music by candlelight so many years ago. After some time I went upstairs and had a shower by candlelight too. How completely relaxing. I carried my little beeswax pillar into my room and went to sleep.

So, we actually had 3 earth hours. I was glad to see that at least one more family in Delisle observed Earth Hour as well. I looked out the front window to see the darkened house of the elderly neighbors across the street with the unmistakable flickering light of a candle.

Earth Hour is a great idea. I, like many others, would like to do this more often.

I guess it is high time I revived this old web log. I deleted my old one, as you may know. Stay tuned. M

By Request: Our Thanksgiving Menu 2007

Turkey with Stuffing and Gravy
Mushroom Strudel
World's Best Baked Onions
Lemon Roasted Broccoli with pine nuts
Make ahead Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Tomatoes, Onions, Garlic with Spinach
Fall Roasted Carrots

Jill is bringing an appetizer of some sort.
Jess is making a Butternut Squash and Carrot soup
Jen is bringing pumpkin pie.

Wines:

Laboure-Roi History 2005 (Beautiful Canada) Pinot Noir from France
Lindeman's Sauvignon Blanc (for those who prefer white)
Piat D'or Rose from France
And a Port (for dessert) from Australia

C'est tout!

Thanksgiving Dinner Again?

I was going through my recipes today. I have been cutting out recipes from magazines for at least 10 years so you can just imagine how many I have. They are all in black binders in my recipe cabinet. Anyway, I am trying to put together my Thanksgiving Menu. I finally have it nailed down, I think to myself. I am going through the recipes for weeding out purposes, I might add. So in the course of my weeding I find a page, in my own handwriting, that says, THANKSGIVING MENU 2006. I read through it and much to my chagrin, I have almost the same thing planned this year!! NOT ON MY WATCH! Back to the drawing board. Only one more day until I have to head to the city to get the provisions. Wish me luck in coming up with a NEW menu that will please everyone. Any suggestions?

UPDATE AT LAST

I realized that I have not been updating this blog as much as I should. I also realized that 53 of you checked it yesterday alone. I suppose there are those who are interested still so I'll write a little something in here now and then.

Exciting news, Jen gave birth to a lovely baby girl yesterday. Another Granddaughter for me and Paul. We can't wait to see little baby Josephine Lauren. And that makes 4 little girls under the age of 4 in our ever growing family. Now we just need some more men. Paul and Jordan are the lone males in our clan. Jess and Jill will likely marry some day but until then, it is two guys and 8 girls!

Athena started school a few weeks ago. She is going two mornings a week. She loves to see all her friends but is so so tired when she gets home. Monday and Wednesday afternoons are on the quiet side. She likes to look at books and listen to Baby Songs. She almost always asks to watch a video too. She is very into Madeline Videos and Books. More days than not she is "Pepito, the son of the Spanish Ambassador", and he is a Bad Hat.

She has been helping out quite a bit getting things ready for winter. She helped me pull the garden and helped me and Paul stack wood for the fireplace. We are getting a full cord delivered this weekend so she'll have a lot of work to do there. No complaining either. I am sure that won't last long. Speaking of fires, the girl is mesmerized by them. As our weather has been quite cool, her Daddy has started making fires and she will sit and gaze and the flames. Yes, we will all die of toxic lung disease, I know, but fires are wonderful to behold.

Paul has been working so much too. In fact, he will be out of town 3 of the next 4 weeks. Ugghhh! I can't stand that, but what can one do? He also has the added stress of trying to find a new company vehicle. He has not found one yet and Jill is chomping at the bit as she is buying his old company vehicle for a very very cheap price. He has also been busy with the fire department as well. Mostly medical calls. Lots and lots of Car vs. Semi, which is never good. Can't wait until they twin highway 7 out to Delisle.

I have been recovering, slowly but surely, from my health problems. I hope to get back on my Yoga mat very soon. I am so glad that I took a leave from teaching classes this fall. With Paul gone and my health issues it would not have been good.

I have an opportunity to teach again in January. I am hoping to take advantage of that for sure. My real desire now is to start painting. Yes, our house needs paint, but I am referring to painting on canvas. I have a wonderful easel and art set that I have not even used yet. It sits, out of sight, quietly whispering my name. I hear it and pay no heed. Hopefully I will find inspiration soon.

We will be having all the girls, all six of them, and Jordan and Mark (Jess's mate) out for Thanksgiving Dinner. That is so wonderful. It is a ton of work but worth every minute. I am making turkey (ewww!) and this year I will make sure to remember to bake the stuffing! I haven't worked out my menu yet, but it will include an assortment of fall veg for sure. I think every one of us loves fresh brussel sprouts so that will be one dish for sure. Jill loves sweet potato, we all love pumpkin pie I think. Wait, maybe Jen doesn't. I'll have to check. I try to make one dish that they all love so all will be happy.

I am also getting behind on my slipper knitting. I made Athena's already but Jordan and Jill are in line and I hope to get Abby's done before they come for Thanksgiving. So you can think of me this next week, sitting in front of a warm fire, sipping my Cabernet and knitting slippers for my loved ones. Sounds rather nice on a chilly fall evening, don't you think?

Busy, Busy, Busy.

That is the word I would use to describe Athena these days. She Just started school this week and so far so good. She will go on Monday and Wednesday mornings, giving Mommy some much needed alone time. She has seemed to "grow up" all at once too. About a month ago she told me " I am too big for diapers". She was right. Before that day, I could count on two hands the number of times she woke up dry. Since that day I can count on ONE hand the number of times she didn't quite make it until morning. Woo hoo! I thought that day would never come.

She has started to take an interest in books, coloring and playdoh. Before, all she wanted to do was run and jump and imagine. You will see this sun she made all by herself. Rolling each ray carefully and placing it just so.

She is sleeping really well too, (except for a few days last week). She goes to bed around 7:45pm and wakes up around 7:45 am. Gotta love that. Some days she just sings in her bed until 8:30 or so giving me and Daddy an hour or so to have our tea (in Paul's case, coffee) and to read the paper. Growing up is good.

Stars Without Makeup
Next time you are feeling a little down cuz your hair isn't just right, click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RokIWzt5YLw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eanvari%2Eorg%2Fcols%2FStars%5Fwithout%5FMake%5FUp%2Ehtml

This girl brings so much joy to our lives. She is smart, funny (although she doesn't know it) and so sweet. She wakes up every morning bursting with energy, ready to take on the day. She never gets bored. Never. She has such a wonderful imagination too. Now, finally, (and I have been waiting a long time for this) she has taken an interest in "reading" her own books and making up her own stories. Not a day goes by that she doesn't make us laugh out loud. What a blessing it is to have her.

Athena is gone. The house seems eerily quiet. Where is she and what is she doing?

She is at cousin Abby's house. So far she has scared Auntie Jen out of her wits about a hundred times, (See above picture and you will know why) eaten lunch, played in Abby's pool and tried to wear some 24m sized dresses of Abby's when she actually wears 4T. I miss her already, but... it is like a refreshing glass of water on a hot summer day to have some time alone. Thank you dear Jen.

Summer Fun


Summer time is nearly over. Hurray! I find summer the most disagreeable season of all. This one in particular. It has been hot. Way too hot. I am not a complainer by nature but come on! Give us some nice moderate weather.

Anyway, we have had some wonderful times. We had the Payette family up for a bbq and they ALL tented in the back yard. Great fun. They are such nice people.


It was Edens birthday so we celebrated with cake. Speaking of Eden, I will include a picture of her taken on the weekend swinging by herself. She is great at is for only being 3 years old. She was trying to teach Athena by repeating "Pump and forward, pump and forward..." about 500 times. I told her she was going to lose her voice and Jill shouted from the deck "Oh no Mom, she has a looooong way to go before that happens" Payback, I thought as Jill talked nonstop as a little girl. She even went so far as to say, "I think I may have told you this but pretend you don't know."



Athena and Daddy have had some great times this summer too. Paul bought a tent and sleeping bags, set them up in the yard and at random times I find them out there together reading books. He took her twice to "eat lunch on a blanket" and she went to her first movie Shrek the Third. She of course had to wash her bike when Daddy washed his too. Monkey see monkey do. The two of them are just nuts some time. Just yesterday they picked all of the apples off of the tree. She remembers that and looks forward to it each year.



Paul and I celebrated our 24th anniversary as well. My how time flies.



This coming up week, Athena is spending two days with Auntie Jen, Uncle Jordan and Abby. She and Abby play so well together. I hope it won't be too much for Jen, being almost 9 months pregnant and all. They will bring her back on Saturday just in time for the 4th Annual Thompson Family BBQ. I will have some time alone to prepare all the food so that is extra nice. It is a whole lot of work but so worth it. What a fun time. I understand there are a few minor feuds in the family so I may have to have arranged seating. :)



So with the barbecue coming close and the weather days getting a bit shorter, my mood lifts as I look forward to the fall. My most favorite time of year.

I want you to know that I will not be posting on this blog very much anymore (as you may have guessed). I will post the odd story or family get together along with pictures for my relatives to see. I have started a new blog on which I will regularly post called Yoga and Natural Health Diary www.michellesyogablog.blogspot.com

I am teaching a few Women's Health and Yoga Workshops this summer and I decided to catalog my journey with my students. Stop by if this interests you. If not, thanks for tuning in. M

Chopped As Well (By Big Sister Jill)

This is the before and after of Athena's summer 'do'.

You will notice in the first picture

she is playing with a "sleeping waxwing"

that flew into our front window.

She wrapped it in a towel and pushed him

on the swing the whole time he slept.

The next morning she saw him on the apple tree.

He must have awakened while she was sleeping.

TAGGED BY WANDA: 8 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

1. I have never lived by myself. Never. Not in 42 years.

2. I would love to be a vegetarian, possibly even a vegan but my carnivore husband and youngest daughter cause me to cook animal flesh.

3. I have no desire to travel anywhere ever. Put to it I would choose Alaska.

4. I have only loved one man my whole life. If that were to be taken away I don't know if I could love another.

5. My 4 children and 2.5 grandchildren mean more to me than anyone would ever know.

6. I love my only son-in-law as if I had given birth to him.

7. After reading #2, you would be surprised to know that on occasion I crave a nice piece of grilled beef tenderloin.

8. I think I am a darn good cook. Actually, let me rephrase that... I KNOW I am a darn good cook.

And, that is the end of my post. Thanks Wanda.

And Yet More Pictures For You

More Family Pictures From A Great Family Day!

Some wonderful pictures of my daughter Jill and her daughter Eden.

This is what happens to Athena when she doesn't do what Abby says.

Just kidding of course but... one time when they were visiting, Abby actually put Athena in a "time out". Strangest of all... Athena actually went for one and didn't come out until Abby said she could.

Reunited. At Last!

No further words necessary.

Notice the matching anklets

cousin Katie made for them.

After years of wearing ratty, bent spectacles,

Jess got some new glasses.

Looking good Jess.

This ...

is what happens when a 3 year old

jumps into the firepit

24 hours after the fire was put out.

And the following weekend,

Daddy had "Bob the Builder"

come with his bobcat and dig it out.

Daddy was very scared.

AN EXCITING WEEK AHEAD

We are planning a wonderful week ahead. Starting today. Wonderful in many ways.

1. The town of Delisle is having its annual garage sale weekend. I really need one of those garden tools that you twist to break up the soil.
2. It is also the towns Clean Sweep weekend where the Fire Department hauls away all of your junk for free!! (Junk that cannot be recycled that is)
3. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Both Jill and Jen and their girls are coming over for a BBQ. Jess is busy otherwise she would come too.
4. Athena, Eden and Abigail will all get to play together for the first time since before Christmas. I promise to take lots of pictures.
5. Jen and Abby are staying with me for a few days while Paul is away to Kansas City on business. Athena thinks we are taking Abby to the city to get her ears pierced. We'll see about that.
6. I will go to the greenhouse and get my annuals for my garden beds and pots.
7. I get to help Jen plan her first "homeowner garden" both flower and vegetable.
8. The weather is supposed to be warm.
9. Jen will babysit Athena while I teach my Monday night Yoga class so I won't have to get a sitter.
10. Paul has a 4 day weekend coming up.

Now you tell me that isn't a grand week!

ATHENA'S PRE-SCHOOL FUN

Finally a lovely spring morning.

Athena got dressed all by herself.

She put barrettes in her hair so

you can see her new PIERCED EARS.

She only has a few more classes left for the term.

Next fall she will go 2 days a week.

Ms. Coleman says she is doing well.

Notice her As on the chalkboard.

She really looks forward to Tuesdays because of two things:

School and Idol!

The last picture is for Jen's amusement.

I laughed out loud when I saw her carefully doing this to her socks.

Bring back any memories Jen???