The War on Weeds

It would seem that I am an avid garden nut. This isn't really surprising given my history. I have a tendency to throw myself passionately into something, especially things I love. Homework fell by the wayside, the laundry piles up, I forget to fill up the van (again), but by golly I would finish that absorbing novel, the sweater or story!
As to gardening, I really should have clued in sooner about this interest. Weeding the neighbours ' garden by stealth just so I could enjoy the sight of their daffodils was just one hint. This summer though I may have bitten off more than I can chew, especially as it is only my second attempt at a garden of my own- but the desire for fresh tomatoes, sunflowers, peas, and pumpkins can make any gardener do silly things,particularly when a friend of a friend tells you to take as much space as you want in their yard for your garden plot!
Ever since we first tore out the sod for said plot, the grass has been desperately trying to reclaim the territory. Along with beets, herbs and zuchini, I have cultivated a healthy dislike of weeds this summer. I am certain that they were part of the fall once Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Oft times I have fought a losing battle, but wonder of wonders! For the first time ever last week it felt that I had at last gained the upperhand. We've been simply besieged by weeds from day one, and given the fact that my friend's little boys were very industrious about removing our carefully plotted row markers, it's a miracle that anything besides the verdant pests have grown at all.
As I've been ridding myself of these unwanted garden guests I have made the joyous discovery again and again of tough little plant sprouts that never said die. This is despite the competion and a dreadful cold season in the spring. Incredibly, even some of the cucumbers survived! My tomatoes survived the frost, and my pea patch is becoming a lush little jungle. I even managed not to kill of the potatoes this year. So far.
Nothing keeps an avid amateur gardener coming back for more when it comes to the war on weeds than the intoxicating success of seeing you plants beginning to thrive.

Book of the Week

The quest for a good summer read continues! With it so warm out I spend a lot of time outside supervising while Ben and Brigham play. Just sitting there gets kinda boring after a few days so I like to keep a bit of knitting and a good book in my purse to help stave off boredom on our outings to the park.

A School Favourite
As a general rule I detested all the things crammed down my throat in L.A during high school. They were all so depressing, morbid or just downright dull. To this day I will not touch anything by Tennesee Williams (ugh!). Yet there is one book that I happily revisit often. My best teacher and mentor Mr.Murdock read Haper Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" aloud to us in grade eight, and I've loved it ever since. The story weaves an unforgettable story. I love that it is seen from the viewpoint of the children in the book-at first I just loved it for all their escapades. Scout and Jem with their friend Dill. Their highjinks and tricks to get the reclusive neighbour Boo Radley to leave his house. As things unfold you start to catch a hint of the drama that will soon strike and change their lives forever. Here's another book that makes you laugh and cry. Every time I read this one I want to pack my bags and visit the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama. This book is exceptional, and the movie is a rare exception too. It actually is a credit to the novel that inspired it.

A Quest for Berries
Reading Robert Mccloskey's book "Blueberries for Sal" always reminds me of going berrypicking with Granny and Grandpa. While Sal and her mother are on one side of Blueberry Hill picking berries to preserve for the winter, Little Bear and his mother are on the other side fattening up for the winter. It's a simple story, but one that makes you smile and reminsce. My boys love this one. Meanwhile, it always leaves their Mommy wondering if we shall have a similar adventure this summer when we go picking blueberries ourselves. They don't call the trails littered with berry brambles through town the Bear trail for nothin'.

Happy reading everybody!

To All the Daddies Out There: Thanks

Seeing as yesterday was Father's Day, the daddies in my life have been on my mind; my dad, Jason, my wonderful grandpas, and my father-in-law. Having a wonderful Dad myself, one of the things I liked so much about Jason when we were dating was how much he reminded me of my dad (they both have the very annoying habit of being right all the time for one thing). I think that being a good parent is an ongoing process rather than a destination. Daddy says there's things he's still working on, which is encouraging for me as I know my mothering is quite a work in progress still! Jason's in the works of being a pretty wonderful Dad as well, and I love watching it happen. He's Ben and Brigham's hero, jungle gym, horse, and beloved Tickle-o-saurus. Luckily for me, I married a very practical and organized man who helps control the chaos around our home. He has always worked so hard to support and take care of our little family.
Daddies are vastly important in a child's life, and I feel truly blessed to have the posistive influence of so many righteous men to bless not only the lives of my children, but mine as well.
Life is good.

Book of the Week

Greetings to all my fellow bibliophiles! We continue this week with more great summer reads.

The Delights of Mr.Darcy:
Looking back on past book post I found that I have yet to burble about my favourite novelist Jane Austen. Shocking that she has been neglected for so long! While I adore her novels, the one that started my passion for her work is the inestimable classic "Pride and Predjudice". From the minute you read the famous opening line "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." you know that you're going to have fun with this one. What is it about this novel which still resonantes with people? For me it is the dry wit, wonderful use of words, memorable characters, and the business of getting a husband (which truly is not so very different from the dating scene today). A good novel needs good plot and superb cahracters-"Pride and Predjudice" has both. Who could ever forget the imperious Lady Catherine, the toady Mr.Collins, the angelic Jane or the neurotic Mrs.Bennet? Each time I reread this one I am struck anew by how familiar the characters are, both in myself and those that I know. Then there's the conflict between the hero and heroine, which has you hopping anxiously in fear that this time things might not work out so splendidly. To tell the truth, the first time I read this one I envied Elizabeth at the end- it made me wish that Mr.Darcy was real and still single.

A Pedestrian in Peril:
Pat Hutchins delightful book "Rosie's Walk" was unknown to me until I encountered it in one of my university courses. Hands down it was the best book I had to read in ANY of my classes! The text belies Rosise the hen's peril, for what could be more innocent than a little stroll around the farm before dinner? What makes this book so much fun is the illustrations that show you just how much trouble Rosie serenely meanders through. She makes it home okay, but her pursuer is not quite so lucky. Read it and laugh.

Happy reading all!

Goodbye Landscaping. Goodbye Forever.

Lately I can't help but wonder who's more excited about summer vacation, Jason or me? With only five more class to go before exams, Jason is getting quite worn out with coaxing his school-weary students into exam readyness. Quite honestly, he needs the holiday much more than they do because he's been working harder. The things is, this will be the first summer he will actually be around, and the prospect of having him home for two entire months makes me grin in anticipation every time I think of it.
Let me explain. Ever since we've been married, Jason has worked long hard hours landscaping every summer. The only time we'd see him was early in the mornings (and how conversational would you really be at 5am delivering papers?), and late at night when he'd collapse exhausted on the couch. Usually, he'd work so late that by the time he got home the boys would be fast asleep. I was a work widow, but no more! This summer he'll be around for the family outings, walks and activities for the first time ever. We get to go on an actual family holiday! We went to the beach on Saturday, and he got to come play with the kids and bask in the sun instead of just slaving away in it. It was a wonderful time.
No more solo parenting outings for me! The boys will get to spend some good time with their Daddy too. What makes me the most excited though is knowing that this summer I finally get to bring my very best friend along on the fun of our summer adventures.
Hooray for a career in teaching!

Book of the Week

Gather round book lovers for yet another opinionated and passioante book review.

Toothsome Treats
This week I indulged in one of my favorite treats: a new book. Normally, Jason says that I have too many cookbooks (which is most likely true) but when he's flipping through pages just as eagerly as I am and it's HIS idea we buy it-well, I don't protest too much. "Martha Stewart's Cupcakes; 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's favorite Treat" is rather a mouthful of a title, but pursuing the pages will make your mouth water. Like most of her books, there's clear instructions and great pictures for every recipe. Every time I leaf through this one makes me want to rush to my kitchen and whip up a batch of tiny cakes. But which ones? Do I go for the S'mores cupcakes? Black Forest? Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes, Triple Citrus or Chocolate Caramel minis? Talk about a culinary dilema! Needless to say, cupcakes will be making a more regular appearance at our place over the next few months.

Not Your Regular Hoedown
Sandra Boynton is a genius. Her board books really made peole realize the potential that this genre could have. Bid banal boardbooks goodbye forever! Her best one (though they're all fabulous) is "Barnyard Dance". Just the swing of the rhymes makes you want to read the book out like a caller at a square dance, clap in time to the beat and tap your foot. Plus these barnyard critters are so endearingly funny, from the surprised looking chicken being spun by a cow to the not-so-easily impressed donkey. With this one, who wouldn't want to "trot with the turkey leap with the frog [and] take another turn with the barnyard dog"? Don't miss the fun with this shindig and come join the fun!

Mommy and Her Boys

Greetings all! I thought that it was high time to post a current family photo, so this is us at the Calgary Zoo in May. The boys just love that zoo, everytime we're in town, they loudly clamour to go there.

Growing up in a family in which the first twelve years of my life were devoid of males (except for Daddy of course), I guess that I always assumed that I would have little girls too. When I was pregnant with Ben and found out that we were having a boy, I paniced. What was I going to do with him?! I knew girls, but my knowledge of boys was shaky at best! Luckily, having Peter as a little brother, and having a husband with a good sense of humour has definently helped me to understand the male mind-a little.

Once Ben was born, I started to learn, and fast! Mostly, I just had to keep up with him. My Ben has always been the personification of perpetual motion. He loves to run, climb, jump, anything that involves movement! When Brigham arrived on the scene our family became even more entrenched in little boydom. He's quieter, but no less enthusisatic about the things he loves. Brigham can quite happily watch passing traffic for hours, and adores keeping up with his big brother.

With two boys about, it didn't take long to learn that if something has wheels it'll be a big hit (even if I can't see the appeal). All sticks are either a sword or gun (or sometimes both), and both our home and neighbourhood are apparantly infested with monsters, dragons and bad guys. It's a good thing that my little knights are such staunch defenders, or I might not just get through the day without being eaten alive, and lose a lot more tickle fights than I already do!

People often ask me if I wish for a girl, but frankly I'm having too much fun with my boys to think about something I don't even have. We read together, my kitchen walls are often plastered by their artwork, go exploring, and tackle Daddy when he comes home. Life is good.

Book of the Week

With hot summer days here at last it is time for some good summer reads. You know what I mean, books you take along to the beach, on a road trip, or just savour in the shade of the backyard. Summer reads aren't intellectually stimulating, they're just sheer fun. Add these to your must-read list.

Best Buds
Yesterday I just finished the most wonderful book. I think that I'll have to add it to my list of all-time favourites, and buy myself a copy of my own.It was one of those novels that make you laugh and cry, and was one of those reads that I didn't want to end because I was enjoying it so much. Obviously I love sharing a good read, but this time I'm getting bossy: READ THIS ONE EVERYBODY! "Last Days of Summer" by Steve Kluger is an epistolatory novel set in Brooklyn in the early 1940s. When Joey Margolis decides that his favourite baseball player and hero Charlie Banks needs to take him on a road trip, he goes to more and more elaborate lengths to grab his attention (much to Charlie's annoyance). This is not a baseball book -a sport in which I practically know nothing about-but one of a remarkable friendship that grows between a hotshot athelete and one devious kid, who have more in common than you would originally think. Seriously, you will be missing out on a splendid book if you don't read this one.

Family Fun
"The Party" by Barbara Reid was one of those books that I'd consistently seen at the bookstore for years (usually prominantly displayed) which I never paid attention to until a friend shared it with me. Since then I have become a huge fan of Barbara Reid's books, as they are all delightful. "The Party" appeals to me for many reasons: 1. It's rhyming text has a lilt and fun beat that are hard to forget, 2.the plasticine illustrations should definently qualify as amazing art and 3. the story reminds me of practically every Young family get together I have ever been to in my entire like. Great fun to read any time, but especially if you're going to a family reunion sometime this summer. I dare you not to enjoy this one.

Happy reading all!

Life in the Bush

To be honest, when I first learned that we'd be moving up North to Slave Lake, I figured that we'd do out time and come back South ASAP. Of course, that's before I actually saw Slave Lake. When I did, I fell in love. It is just so beautiful up here! It was nice in the winter, but now that it is summer even more so.
When I took speech lessons I learned this poem called "Going up North" about the remote beauty of the North. At long last I think I understand what the poet was talking about.We're surrounded by the woods, and I love taking the boys tramping through them. There's wild raspberries everywhere, and apparantly a plethora of saskatoons, blueberries and canberries too. You just have to watch out for the bears when you go to pick them! The woods are right by our new place, and you can hear the frogs talking to each other throughout the day. On our last jaunt through the woods we discovered lots and lots of ferns popping up. Both Ben and Brigham love exploring in the woods, and finding sticks. I just love watching them playing and discovering new things.
Then there's the beach. Slave Lake is so huge that you can't see the other side, and its remote, untouched beauty is incredible. Ben is pestering me every day to go back to the lake. He loves building sandcastles while Brigham gets a big kick out of running into the water and being chased by the waves. He always giggles with delight over it all. Seeing as fishing is so good and popular around here, we've promised the boys that we'll go this summer (Ben has decided that he wants to catch a shark). I foresee that we'll be spending at least half of our time at the beach this summer.
Now that we're here in Slave Lake I don't want to leave. I just love it here! Every time we drive out, it's never long before I think (yet again) "WOW! It's just so beautiful here!" There's camping, berrypicking, beaching, hiking, and fishing all just minutes away from home. Life in the bush is good, and this life time city girl has gone small town.