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?