Just poppin' in to say I'm making Sang-a-ria.

I'm loving this sunny day with a cool breeze.

Perfect for hosting an old (young) friend and her two boys.

The 5 boys will be happy playing together while us Moms enjoy homemade Sangria in cute glasses on the deck.

Homemade Sangria Recipe:

Cheapest bottle of red wine (homemade wine works very well!)

Orange juice

Cut up fresh oranges, strawberries. Can also use some frozen berries.

Splash of Peach Schnapps

Let sit in fridge. Even amazing the next day!

My Sister is Funny and Types Really Fast

This is the e-mail I got from my sister at about 3 pm N.S. time today. The subject line read:

:why I drink.

1) I come home from a half-day (of teaching) and clean the remaining part of the day (bathroom, laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, kitchen… you know the drill) only to be sighed at heavily for being so loud cleaning (sorry… me so sorry…. Me try to be quiet for massuh next time)

2) Hannah bawled me out while on the phone at school – as in the Junior High office phone --with the secretary and all the teachers/principals I know around her. She cussed ME out because I dared to bug her at lunch to try to find my Minnie Mouse travel mug (which she did!!! Yay!!!) and make sure it gets brought home TODAY (that thing is me precious)

3) Hannah proceeded to stomp in the door after school, with friend in tow (sleepover here tonight), to then continue to bawl me out, lecture me, etc. Let’s just say my eyes were shooting darts at her and I used my “not nice” voice to get her to stop.

4) Matt keeps saying “I GOT it MOM” when I’m asking him if he’s using the cooked chicken for his take to work dinner (he’s leaving shortly). I don’t give a flying shit if he “has it”, I just want to know either way because I’ll put it in the freezer for another time if he’s not using it i.e. I don’t want to have more than TEN DOLLARS worth of chicken go bad and it’s due to be frozen or used.

5) 'S' shooed me out of his office saying he was too busy to hear me vent, but meanwhile I heard him then skype his business partner and start shooting the shit with him.

6) I drank last night. Obv. Probably 3 glasses of red wine and a rum and juice cocktail. It was nummy. I didn’t feel like crap after (it was spread out over many many hours). However, I did think today that maybe I should try to not have something tonight. WTF? What was I thinking??

7) Dinner? You’re asking meeee? I was going to laze out a dinner of something frozen and processed like chicken wings because Matt’s going to be at work, but now Julia is over with Hannah. Can I still ‘make’ said lazy dinner? Is that kosher?

8) It’s sunny and I’m on our deck looking at potted pansies sipping a DAMN WATER! One of these things is not like the other.

So these are all the reasons why I drink.

Oh, and of course because I am a loud and proud FAULKNER.

I then got this e-mail about 2 hours later:

Two gin and tonics later….

I’m filling my shopping basket on Garden Grocer RIGHT NOW! That’s right – it’s time to get those breakfasts and snacks figured out!

Seeing as though it’s EIGHT nights this time (how awesome were we to add that extra night?) it is NOT going to be a problem filling an order larger enough to get free delivery, eh what?

I know there are so many hidden jokes in there, but what really makes me laugh is that it probably took her all of 1 minute to type the first e-mail and I know that once she sent it off she felt better and therefore could pour herself a drink.

Cheers to my sister!! She can always make me laugh, even at my own expense.

Most Boring Blog Ever Award

I win the most boring blog ever award. I'm paralyzed by the thought of knowing the people who read this blog, which is seriously dumb.

So to continue with the boring theme, here's an update on what's being going on round here parts:

1) The house has fallen into a mass of clean laundry piles needing a home, dust bunnies turning into dust monsters, a never ending mess in the kitchen (why can't I keep it clean?), and windows needing a good cleaning.

2) Finn wants to play soccer, Owen wants to do nothing, and Tyler has visions of gaming for two months.

3) Ty went to Ottawa U for the mini enrichment thingy and begrudgingly tolerated it. Awesome.

4) The craft show went off without a hitch and we are overwhelmed with all the ideas we want to put into action for the fall. Borderline paralyzing but we have a pow-wow scheduled for this week-end.

5) I NEED a day in my house to myself. With the sun shining. To organize, clean, get the goodwill stuff out of my garage.

Boring, boring, I know. On a good note, Mike & I are planning on doing the local wine & food event on Saturday afternoon. And I'm scouring the web for cheap flights to Orlando for our trip to Disney in August! Yay!

Here's a picture to wake you up, enjoy:)

(to be added later. gotcha)

I am way cornier than I appear. Sentimental, wistful, corny. I'm a closet corny person because my family is a family of mockers, teasers and overall funny folk {but they're really just as corny as me}.

Here's what I'm corny about right now:

{I'm all about girl power}

Timeline '69-'74

I thought it may be fun to do a timeline a la Holly from Nothing But Bonfires. I'm a military brat and so my memories from childhood are segmented by 3 year chunks in various places.

The early years aren't really mine to talk about, in that what I know is mostly from what I'm told and not what I remember.

I was born in 1969 in Middleton, N.S. My parents lived in Greenwood on the air force base at that time (which we did only twice) and since there wasn't a hospital there, my birth certificate says Middleton.

They already had my older brother Sean and sister Terri who were 4 and almost 3 when I was born.

{I love this picture of my Mom, so pretty}

We lived in Greenwood for another 3 years I think. During that time we lived in the cutest little PMQ (private married quarters) that backed onto a field. We had a maltese named Muppet. My Dad was gone a ton because he was out flying over the ocean looking for submarines.

Our next posting was to Key West, Florida where we lived for a year. This house I remember as being a bungalow that had a backyard with a swamp in the back and poisonous jellyfish. I recall there being crazy storms and eating at a restaurant near the beach and the water was coming in on the floor. I also remember going to the Officers Mess (which is like their hang-out place) and being on awesome monkey bars on the beach. My Dad caught a shark, wore cut-off jean shorts and sandals and my Mom was pregnant by the end of the year with my little brother.

{I guess Terri had an itsy bity yellow polka-dot bikini}

Apparently we went to Disney World a couple of times (it had only opened in '71) and what I remember is the Mickey Mouse shaped balloons, my Dad wearing wax teeth in the hotel, and 10,000 leagues under the sea ride.

{I found evidence!}

We were then posted to Patuxant River, Maryland where there is a naval air station. We lived in a split level and I think the house my parents bought in the last few years here is very similar. My little brother Danny was born in November. My grandparents came down for a visit, as well as help watch the 3 of us while Mom was in the hospital with the baby-that-would-steal-my-thunder. When my Grandma told me that name of the baby was Daniel I remember thinking that was a stupid name. I was only 4 after all.

Our backyard seemed HUGE to me in that house, with woods behind us where the 'easter bunny' would hide eggs on easter morning. We had a Great Dane that lived next door and I was terrified of it. In my minds eye it was 10 feet tall and would bark every time I walked by the side of the house to go in the back. I'm pretty sure I had nightmares about that dog for years.

I don't remember Mom and Dad too much from this year. I know that Sean broke his foot and walked on it for days because my Dad didn't believe it was broken. I remember my little brother had to wear a metal bar between his shoes to fix torsion in his leg(s). I do remember, again, there being crazy storms where my Mom had us stay away from the windows (maybe that was Key West) and the power going out.

When this year was done we moved to Ottawa, somewhere I had yet to live but where most of my Dad's relatives lived.

I have a great boss. She's just a young thang who happens to own her own store in Almonte. Seriously who has their own shop at her age?

I think we're now great friends, and we depend on each other and complement each other well. One of us micro-manages alot and one of us doesn't really care. (Mostly because one already micro-manages at home way too much.)

But this is not an 'Ode to Emily'. This is another boot post.

Emily gifted me money towards a rocking pair of boots for Christmas. Because she's thoughtful beyond belief and is a way better listener than I am.

I have yet to find the rocking pair of boots that I'd like, but I thought that tonight I was feeling like it would be a good time to have a peek on-line.

This is the first pair I found:

Puhleeze. These are way too amazing. And yet, somehow I have delusions of granduere because they are $625. {from gravity pope}

These are pretty cute & very Blundstone-like from the Fluevog website. And they come in RED. But I think I want something a little more fun.

Ugh! These ones are only $665 from, again, Gravity Pope. {my new fav website}

I don't like these. I just think they are hilarious. How Tom Cruise are they? Heh.

Well guess what? I didn't find my boots yet. I know the way this works. Once I buy one pair, I'll find plenty I love and want in my budget. Then I'll be back in my younger boot wearing days (back when I rocked the long shorts & cowboy boots and was told I looked like Kermit the frog. cowboy boot were the rage back then. don't judge:)

Did find these though to replace the ones I outgrew and gave to my niece. In RED. Because that's how I roll.

It's a snow day!

I LOVE having my kids home when I'm not supposed to. Makes me nostalgic for when they were young and needed me constantly. That feeling will pass by about 2 o'clock.

Right now I'm making cookies, not because I'm a suzie-homemaker but out of necessity. They eat a lot. Finn just ate a huge spoon of cookie dough ~ I wonder how long it will take to see the sugar kick in.

*2 minutes*

This past week I've been:

Spending lots of time at the rink, cheering on the boys. Finn's last game on Tuesday involved him hitting the boards and the trainer running out to check on him. What fun. Not. He ended up recovering after sitting off for a bit and scored a goal (doesn't happen too often) to tie up the game. Mike was so happy for him, I wish I could have his reaction on videotape.

Spending lots of time thinking about and working on Handmade Harvest. (As has Emily. Not sure how she does it, what with a 2 year old & newborn!) We've got an amazing group of vendors once again and we want to promote the show as much as possible.

Finding a great piece of retro furniture (60's?) for the dining room. I LOVE it and had a need for it. Unfortunately I have 4 males and a jack russell in the house which means there are tennis balls rolling around my house at all times. Let's just say I lost it when one bounced off the glass of the new buffet.

Finding amazing inspiration on-line = very few magazine purchases. (my contribution to the environment?)

Watching a fab episode of Glee that then became extremely uncomfortable because I wasn't watching it alone. As in my teenager was watching with me. The theme of the episode was sex. (insert 'come on' as said by one of the cougar town guys. washisface.)

Watching my oldest son push through his worries and decide to do new things he doesn't feel comfortable with. Like this. And this. And get his grad photos taken. He hates getting school photos taken. (Of course, once I started looking into him getting a ski lesson he backed down. But there's a chance I'll get him to do it!)

Hoping that I can get through another wintry week without losing my sanity. Please let spring come soon!

Photo update # 2

Finn & Ow on their uncle's backyard rink Christmas Eve.

Healthy competition hockey with the some of the cousins.

I'm pretty sure my boys are the messiest rib eaters ever. Great spread & story telling with Mike's side of the family.

Home from the in-laws and opening a Christmas Eve gift. Finn's face says 'hurry up and take the picture'.

Christmas morning when they are feeling warm & fuzzy towards each other. It lasts 24 hours and it's total bliss.

Photo update # 1

Some pictures of what was up in December:

Finn's Christmas concert and my view. This man, who sat at the very last minute, must have been 7 feet tall with the best posture ever.

Well, I did get one picture. That's Finn in the elf hat kneeling. He was the narrator as well. How many more of these will I get to go to with my baby being 8.


There was lots of sliding/skating on ice this winter.

Happy

I'm pretty sure I have yet to mention that I have a newfound obsession. It's really a year old actually, if you want to get specific.

The reason I should not even mention it is that I should probably establish my cool and amazing taste first. Like, if I mention how much I love this place you'll get all judgy with me and no longer deem my opinions worthy. In fact, I'm pretty sure some may think I've lost all credibility.

A year ago we took our family to Walt Disney World (with my sister and little brother and families). Fourteen of us descended on Orlando at staggered times, on the same day, to surprise my boys that their cousins were also going to be there (the cousins had already been at least 4 times previously. what!)

{insert past world travels, countries visited and amazing life experiences}

It was a fantastic surprise, it was such a great time and we couldn't have asked for better people to go to Disney with the first time.

Because we are coming up to a year, I'm really itchy to go back. I'm a bit of a simpleton when I think of it all....the smells, the feeling, the innocence. I try to blame living in Key West for a year as a child on why I love it so much, but that argument falls short in justifying my little brother's obsession. Only 3 of us lived there. He wasn't born yet.

For some unexplained reason, I can say it truly is my happy place.

{love this one----}