Jess comes after noon and Janice and Steve this evening! I still don't believe it!  I am excited and am so looking forward to this day!  I am thinking of you all and it would be so wonderful to have everyone here.  Actually I think in a way you all are!

I had a thought. I know this is shocking but hang in there until I tell you what it is.  I am boardering crazy here(oh!!!  I heard that!!! LOL!!! I said boardering!) . Lots going on and I may head to the cottage to help out there. It's Tuesday morning here and Janice and Steve will arrive Friday. Jess will be here sometime before them and everything is so exciting!!! Just so you know the house is sooooo far from being "fake".  I had the bedrooms cleaned but everyone was home for Mother's Day and the last one left yesterday. 

I had the best Mother's Day!!!  I was so blessed and I thank my wonderful kiddies. The day was perfect with everyone coming here but it just got better and better!!!  My two girls and my SIL took me to a spa for a hair cut !!! It was soooo funny,I was escourted and had no escape route at all!!  The three of them sat behind me and the laughter and giggling was going on through the whole process of making me look slightly less frumpy!!!  I thought this was so special for them to do for me. I came home as the "new" me and was treated to my son cooking along with my Husband so the meal was out of this world!  The kiddies took over pulling the table out to it's longest form(I love this,means everyone is here and the house is full!) and setting it. We gathered round for bar-b-qued shrimp,and pork chops and chicken breasts and my son did two lamb roasts. My husband did special potatoes that disappeared and we had a wonderful time talking and laughing.  I looked around the table and how easy to count your blessings. Each face so dear and special,each person so terribly close to your heart and wonderful. But the most special face was parked in a car seat!!! Little Sean will be 2 months old next week and my heart bounced when I got to hold him while he slept for a couple of hours. What heaven I was in to have not done the meal or the prep and my daughter took care of all the clean up and I was queen,more than queen,I was the one lucky enough to have all these people in my life. But I was the one to hold this little being and feel him dream and breath and just be. I am Mother to this wonderful group but I am Grandmother to the wonderful little next generation.  I am so blessed.

I was so moved by the day they gave me I was near tears,happy tears!!  It was so nice to be surrounded by the group and to get to feel Sean and I guess instead of yapping on (who me????LOL!?!) I should get back to the thought before the thought goes!  I was thinking that Janice has been out of touch and I know how very much eveyone means to her. I too feel that way and have not been on as much as I would like to be.  I feel bad as I have not been to lounges and have not been reading as much and feel that I need more time to visit everyone. So if I feel this,missing eveyone and missing the contact, I am sure Janice is really feeling it. I thought to use this blog and I could print off the messages to Janice and have them here for her when she gets here!  I thought this is a way for everyone to "BE" here too!  I know she has been busy taking in all the travel and sights but I think my dear friend....WHO I AM ABOUT TO MEET!!!!   ,sorry,very excited about it all!!!!.... will be really missing everyone too! So if we do this then she has the wishes printed out and forever they will be with her! Just a thought what do you guys think???

Hummm,you know how you raise your children?? Trying hard to pass on what you think is important and what you value???  Well I tried very hard to raise honest and straight forward kids.  Darn it!! I was successful. Maybe too much. You can't get anything by them and they call you on everything,darn annoying. I realized some time back that I was being totally out done by my kiddies. Use to be back when they were little,it was fun to keep a step ahead and challenge their knowledge and make a game out of it to keep them questioning and growing. The first sign of you being in deep trouble is when you refer to books for info to stump them. Then it all goes down hill from there. You must hang on tight to the thought that they have not gained on your intelligence. You must put up a good front and limit the use of uhhhh????  Never use uhhh and a puzzled look together or they KNOW they have gotten you!!!

Comes to the first of my daughters. She is brilliant as they are all in different fields and very knowledgable over and above their schooling. But this young lady is extremely annoying. She has labeled the truth.  She calls getting ready for guesting..."Putting on the Fake House".  Really!  Well she's sort of right...O.K., she's a lot right! I don't live in a spotless home and I could really care less about the dust bunnies...each has a right to life and how do we measure the intelligence of a life form we have not studied? They might be trying to start their own universe...I watched Star Trek...could be!!! I do swing into action when the dog fur gets a bit much...but then that is self preservation as it's hard to breath at that point. So my making of the fake house was delayed as I was having troubles and I have only just started to clean up...not that it is needed of course...everything being perfect and all!!! LOL! LOL!!! If you believe that then watch out for the next salesman!!!  Then First born son just calls and needs us to head north to over see a work project he paid for last year and they have not done yet at the cottage!!!  Getting work people up at the cottage is very hard. So do we go and Janice,Steve and Jess get no Fake House??? Or do we stay and I work on getting Fake House ready?? It takes a couple of hours to get there and a whole day at least for the work to be done so we will be gone three days. Son needs this to be done and I need to have a least a little of the Fake House going here. Fake House!!!  Daughter!!!  It's not really fake..just a little less real!  What do you Ladies think?? Is it fake to clean up?  I was taught that it is more putting your best foot forward or showing respect for your guests,who needs to see your house as it really is??? Who would want that? LOL!!!  Sometimes Fake is good!!!

Hummm....anyone care to donate??? Or better yet... set up a pool?  How many boxes will the silly ones need??  The waiting was broken by the call!!   I got to talk to Janice! Opppsss and Steve of course!  It was exciting to talk to Steve too! But they are here in Canada!!!  I was so happy!  Janice sounded a wee bit tired ...adjusting to the time change I bet and all the travel.  She is still three hours behind here as they are on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia.  It is so neat to think of Janice and Steve in Victoria and Vancouver as I have been there and can picture it.  I love the beauty of Victoria,quaint villages and gardens on a royal scale all surrounded by the deep clear Pacific Ocean. And the ferry ride over to the mainland where you can see beautiful beaches and mountains topped in snow.  I have walked those gardens and know how stunning and breath taking the veiws are.  I have had a very rough week,almost total lack of moblity which I think our dear Lady felt but all is starting to work again so I am fine.  I am so excited.  The reality is almost here,almost real!!!  I can hardly wait!  I spent yesterday eyeing the phone and if I left the house it was just to the drive or back yard...pull that one on me again you sneaky phone...Ha! HA! A watched phone does ring!!! So as dear emmie said 10 more sleeps....or lack of sleeps to go!!!  10!!!!!  Poor Jess,I hope we have enough kleenex,Jess hasn't said wether she is a weeper or not! Hope one of us is dry!!!  Guys don't count...I'm sure they are totally puzzled by all of this!

I have kept the computer off. I was waiting for a phone call. Kept walking by the phone,peaking at it to see if it would ring. Sigh,no phone calls. So silly us decide to go out and pick up some groceries and yes...come back to the message light flashing !! Darn and double darn!!! Could it be!!! Of course,there is Steve's voice with the news!!! They are here! Over on the other side of Canada on the west coast!  Then I thought ...well everyone will want to hear the news and I think everyone but me knew!! Haaa,haaa,that is usually the way! 

So ....here I sit adding more of the generous notes of compliments to the list.  It is not that I have not appreciated the compliments as I have greatly enjoyed getting them!!! But Clay softly told me to click,Angie told me and Izzy in her new position says space will be an issue.  So I have taken to clicking. The reason I have not clicked is that when you do that it becomes a list...a list of icons. These thoughts that have been placed here in my little lounge have the names as they sit,as they sit unclicked I can see each face and smile at the thought of being thought of...means a lot!!!  So as to comply I click away and thank each person who took the time out of their more than busy life to send me a little message. Even though it will now be a list I will remember...of course at my stage it would have been easier to have it all listed there but little mind will handle it ...I hope! LOL!

So Janice and Steve are on their way. Visiting the beauty that is Canada that stretches from coast to coast.  Each area special and all the people from each area very special!  I know the west coast and the Rockies will take their breath away.  I know the foothills and praries will be wonderful. I know the north of Ontario will wow you with billions of lakes and trees...but never will you find a more long awaited hug than here in Ontario!!!  So tricky phone...I challenge you to do that again!! Wait until I am gone to ring when I waited and watched....oh!! Watched pot never boils! Less than two weeks!!!! So excited!

I ask for forgiveness,those who know me know what's ahead...I went to the cottage and you know how I get when I'm up there... so you are warned!!! LOL!!!

My eldest son,the new Daddy ,stopped by and had a plan!  O.K.!!  What was it?  He and his Dad disappeared and left DIL and new little Grandson here!  Weeee!   Thought I...I am set!  I can steal Grandson and have a wonderful time...which I did and was indeed having a wonderful time!   Back come the men folk and lo and behold they had wrangled a new upright freezer into the van and son had ever so graciously filled the van with gas,not a cheap undertaking!   I was to get ready as we were leaving for the cottage!!!  Well being the extra fancy person I am I grabbed a plastic bag,was packed in two seconds and had food in a cooler in five,out the door in 10 minutes!  READY!!! LET'S GO!!!

The trip up was funny,dog was upset as he couldn't see us over the freezer and whined until I threatened him. I swear he understood that finding a new home for himself would be really hard as he is a quirky beast!  It was heaven to pass the familiar landmarks and make our way up to the cottage. I haven't been up for so long and my soul needs the renewal.  The land is struggling to break into spring.  The heavy snows have compressed the grasses at the road side and the new growth is just starting.  The trees are just beginning to bud so the veiw is not lush as one remembers but rather looks like winter without the snow.  The trip is almost two hours and I took in all the fields and changes all the way up.  The drive into the cottage was untouched and was littered with leaves and thrown branches showing the effects of high winds.  The water much higher but then we thought it would be.  We settled in to unpack and feeding ourselves as it was later ,we were starving and it was so great to be there.  Son had bought huge beautiful steaks and the meal was great!  We got the new freezer in and down into the cellar and decided to call it a night around midnight.

We slept out to allow dog to stay with us and not to interupt what they needed to do with the Baby.  I love sleeping outside!  We were cold at first but warm up once you tuck in,the tempature was just below freezing.  I was rather glad we were using the van as dog, late into the night, started a low growl.  The growl was much louder from outside of the van,right by my window!  I bolted to see what it was and grapped my flashlight and got out.  No eyes gleaming at me,nothing I could see.  I knew it wasn't a bear because you feel their growl,it reverberates.  This I know from zoos,I'm very respectful of bears!   Ah...darn! But something was around.

The morning had not broken and I was out!  Down to the water which is so beautiful.  This time of year the water is warmer than the air in the mornings and you are greeted by low cloulds,all mist from the water.  I scouted about the van and picked up prints off a ways in the sand.  I went down  and followed some paths and found small droppings. What leaves these?  I thought I knew but I'd have to see.  I returned to the water side and Hubby brought out a coffee! Hummm hot deeply rich warmth and the aroma and the veiw of the lake!  What could be better??  The merganzers were diving,we watched them fly in.  The heron flew over and did his slow graceful land near the shore. The silence was totally broken by a pair of Canadian geese that were in courtship dance on the water,breaking in and out of the fog as they acknowledged each other in their strange dance.  Just heaven,heaven to be there and to be taking it all in.  They swam around and around each other honking and barking and all the little head movements!  Very,very noisy as they anounce that  they are a couple and this will be there lake!!  They started at a little knoll that jutted out of the water to scoop and perpare their nest.  So interesting!!  I thought,good time for a walk,before the start of everyone's day scares off the animals so we headed down the cottage road.  We went quietly,Hubby,dog and I and as we neared the highway were Hubby would take dog for miles and I would head back I got the biggest thrill!  There,trotting up a hill was a full grown wolf.  I quietly called dog to me and showed Hubby what had caught my attention. Hubby saw him too but I caught the details.  The large head was all white with discolouring around the eyes and mouth,lean wide chest and down the back was the heavier darker coloured fur,looking bronze against the white sides and flanks. The legs were long,very tall animal and powerful as he lifted them cafefully in his paced trot. The feet huge and wide, thick and deep pads on the feet. The flanks were prue fuffy white and the tail long and hanging with white fur.  I didn't think my heart would keep in my chest I was so thrilled and so excited!!! This powerful beautiful free and wild animal was right there! Escaping my vision now,entering the forest and I felt so blessed to have had that moment to see it!  A wolf,a symbol of our nature,that of it that is left. My mind will hold the picture of that brilliant beast,trotting away to the saftey of the forest.

The rest of the day was spent looking for other critters while working away at trying to clean up from a hard winter. We saw the woodpeckers back, saw a whole flock of turkey vultures and dog scared a big huge tom turkey up just a ways from the cottage!  I think the neatest thing was..well nothing can top the wolf,but I found the first snake out.  A beautiful gater snake. I only saw him from the motion,he is near invisable unless your eye sees him move. Dog ran by and almost over it,I don't allow dog to bother the snakes. This one was bright,you could see by the eyes he had just shead. He was almost 30 inches long and looked to have just eatten or was pregnant!  It moved when dog ran by and decided to head for my foot,that looked like higher ground on the path as it had tried to curl under the wheelbarrow wheel and didn't feel safe.  I called to the guys to come see and they said,no snakes out yet,the ground's still too cold....oh yah??? So here they came to see this grand fellow!  He heard the vibrations and got a little tense but after they were looking at him he he knew no harm was intended.  Son noticed the marks on him,I said scarrring...I wonder what tales he could tell of his survival???  Son is looking forward to me teaching Grandson.. Daughter in law is worried as she is so much not a fan of anything other than dogs. One has to have respect for these wonderful creatures.  The wolf I worry about. This great beast belongs further north and has come this far south to hunt...a very tough winter. His droppings say that he has not and is not getting enough to eat.  I wish we could honour his being in some manner other than to just admire his sheer being,a force of the wild and of a free life.

The sun was bright and I was bracing for the trip...the trip across the 401. Hubby as usual was annoyingly calm. Why did I find a calm reasonable man??? Oh yes..because opposites attract!!! That has got to be it. I flap! As I have stated before because I just continually put it all out there..I am a flapper!!! Is there anyone else who flaps???? Flappers can get themselves worked up over...lets see, things not being right..as by our definition! Worrying about things to come..because that helps...NOT!!! But you do it anyway! LOL!!! When you don't have those last minutes things done and you are running about like a crazy person(no need to draw conclusions here!) to get them done and other people in the house are calm...not seeing the urgency of it all..this goes back to the annoying calmness. I know I get worked up,I know it doesn't makes sense and I know it wears you out but...flappers flap. For the first time in history my Hubby said something that although it rated a glare,yes..that type of glare,the one were you try so very hard to bore holes through your victum....he said,I know ..that's what you do! Finally he gets it!!! I didn't like the statement but finally he is not trying to reason away my flap. I don't think it can be done or I would have listened to myself and done the sensible thing years ago. Praise be it only took 35 years!!! So off we went stocked with beef,fixings for gravy,potatoes and everything for a huge salad. I took a store bought cake! Shock! Can't believe we did that but this one is sooo good,had to take it! We had a plan and it came together! Off across the huge and busy 401 and due to the intensity of my flap I knew we had everything. LOL!!! We were greated by my Daughter in law holding Sean! YES!!! He has changed so much! He is a few days over a month and filling out,lifting his little head and trying so very hard to focus on things,like crazy grinning Grandma's face! Poor kid! What a sight that must be. The delight of seeing the little brow crunch up and the eyes widen trying so hard to see this old lady that seems so intent on catching his attention. The little hands flying and he is just so hugable!!! Hubby put the roast into the oven and readied the potatoes and I put the salad together and then daughter that has just moved showed up. Great! We opened the baby gifts we brought from family members and talked and centered on Sean. Then I thought,this little guy will always have all this love around him. Always have this circle of elders to rely on. Very powerful when you think that this circle,the one we call family has withstood the times,started when man himself was new. We all have such a powerful legacy to pass on.

My day was quite normal,got out ,did some things,cleaned a bit, all the stuff you're suppose to do...well except rake,must get out and tackle that...don't want to whaaaaa!!!  But my night!!! Whoooo Hoooo! That was amazing!  Now before those of you who are so inclined...you know who you are!!! LOL!!! Think that it was anything ..well like that...I got a phone call from JANICE!!!  I was just on cloud nine! I was beyond excited and so,so,so happy!  We chatted!!!  I love her voice,I just perk up when I hear her. She has this multi-layered voice,deep and rich and soft and quiet! I love to hear her. The phone on the past calls have either echoed or been static ridden and have not been clear but last night it sounded like she was with me...right there! And she will be soon!!!  The quality broke down after a bit but I know she is right with me and I her,many times. Crazy!!! I know it seems so crazy but I really feel we know each other. Half way round this big old world is this wonderous Lady that I am going to be lucky enough to meet!!! SOON!!!!   So soon,been counting and imagining it but it is going to be real,soon! I am the most excited person on the face of this earth. We have decided we might need tissues,maybe boxes.... I wonder how many we will need??? Nah,joyful tears can just flow!

Shhhh...I wrote my last blog,and then it happened...I couldn't sign back on.  I know what happened,the little guys heard !!!   They took offence at my jabs and then I couldn't get back on to see what my friends were up to!   No seeing if Cham's house move was on or if Jess left for the tropical holiday.   Didn't have a clue how poor headless Nell was doing but I know she aced that interview.   Knew Janice would be busy visiting but still!!!   I couldn't sign on!  Cathbusymom found out when her twins are coming and Angieh might have cooked something wonderful and I wouldn't know!   Most of all I miss pictures of the sweetest little kiddies!   Love my pictures of Emma and Sophie,Chloe and Kylie and spunky little Jaydee!!!   I love checking in to see the new baby pictures of Daniel and Jake!   My computer world was missing for a couple of days because of the little computer guys.   Winnie could have been out in her yard  and might have reported on the hedgehog.   I thought ..what about allyp way out there in west Canada,has she started school yet?   s Dramamom still  around...what if she left?  What of Lilysmom, Julie and Izzy and Fi...where are they all.   Bad enough Minti is changing and the tower crew locks me out of it all!!  All these exciting changes and I know nothing( there's something new!!).   I bet Alana wrote something interesting and I missed it?  Arna and Maria,oh so many that I care to know that they are doing O.K. and little computer guys are being mean!   I love to read about and see how all the people are..even those that don't blog,you see their comments and think..oh there they are.  I thought that dear Sandra could be cold!  LOL!!!   So , I have pledged to vacumm the air intake port.  I will not talk with tones of disrespect for the tower crew,as sneaky and low down as they can be they do keep the gears turning on those little trend mills so I must pay proper respect.  Or no Minti for me!!!!

What!!! The old familiar is gone!  How upsetting.  I now feel there is more stuff I know totally nothing about.  Geeesss.  Well I am not one to dive in...as I have fessed up to before, I fear these computer things and now I am a stranger in a strange land. Gone my safe little journey. Now it's filled with new wild things that little brain is in wonder about!  I thought I had done something terribly wrong when I went to e-mail Jess through Minti!  I hate to be the one to cause my computer pain but it went dark and poppped up a box. As we have dial up (curse,curse the slowness of dial up!!!) it took a long time for the magic box to fill in...all the time I was sitting in horror wondering what I had none to computer guys in the tower on the floor that they were upset about. I thought of offering them food and remembered Kathryn's wonderful joke,but I am out of small bytes!! LOL!!! Still a good one Kathryn!  So as the young Ladies all about Minti are probably thrilled ,being so computer savvy and all,take a moment to see me run outside to the things I understand. It's chilly here this morning with the sun out bright and the birds are all singing in the backyard!!! ahhhhh,love this time of year!