With the horrors of transportation dealt with, I feel I need to write a Janice blog! Heee,heee,worried her too much with my crazy goings on! But it seems normal to me!

I was very surprised to see the marsh lands frozen over. Across the main highway the endless spance of marsh land seems frozen across too. While out looking and taking in that sight the vultures were circling. They are huge birds and are very vocal in calling to each other. They seem to have a multiple layered call to tell what and were they have found whatever and they click or  squawk back and forth to each other to adjust the circles accordingly. They moved on down to the south and I walked back after sending Hubby and dog off on their walk. It is so quiet in the winter and winter has fallen up north. There was a half foot of snow and not only was the marsh lands frozen ,the whole span of the lake was too. Very early! I missed the clumsy runs of the chipmunks and they weren't there to bark at me. The few birds were quiet,basically working hard to feed themselves and no time for singing. The days are short and the cold means the need to keep warm so they have to be busy. The endless movement of the forest is gone as there are no leaves left to catch the winds and the life that busied the floor of the woods is long gone in an effort to make it through till spring. The branches were weighted down with wet snow. Usually on the trip up I see birds and animals but this time I can only report one hawk and a troop of huge wild turkeys. About a dozen of the dark large birds were feeding in a field as we headed north. The area they were in was elevated to the road and it was an odd angle to see them at. You were just about level to them and their interest was in gleaning the kernnels of corn from the farmers field. You could see the colour bands in the feathers and the different layers of feathers!  One or two sported the red gobble and they were neat to see,reminded me of a prehistoric thing,moving along eating and looking so oddly ancient.

Hubby and I took dog and went off to search for useable deadfall for firewood when they got back from the walk and had warmed a bit. I got carried away and spotted a place I wanted to see. It was a big rock formation so off I went. Dog stayed with the one he loves and came off and on to check on me. Hubby went on and is very use to me disappearing. Walking through is tricky in winter,specially if you go on the rocks. It is slippery but what you have to be aware of is the deep vents or breakages in the rocks,loosing footing is not good and you don't want to get stuck in one. The easy way through is to follow the deer paths. They know their footing. Walking to were i wanted to go was very tiring,the snow was deep and the way tough but it didn't take too long to get there. The rock appears so huge and solid but then you notice things. Like the layers of rock laying here and there that has broken off. I noticed the sun melting the snow and the trickles of water that were running down. Some ran into the rock and you can see were the water has worn this huge massive rocks face. Then you come to note all the colours of the mosses growing and how they have started to grow were the water runs. This rock is being worn down. For all it's size and wonder of solidness it is expanding in the sun,wearing the cracks and losing layers here and there. They sit at the base as proof that the ice and water are winning,wearing down this giant as he sits and has no defence from the elements that wear him so. Tired rock,tired me,I need to head back to warm my feet. As I touch the rock to climb down I can feel the warmth from the sun and wonder how tall will he be standing in a decade?

 

Well!!! I thought...about time, I haven't been up to the cottage in ages and I miss the place. Added advantage was going to be working with my son for the weekend! I most miss seeing him there and being with him for the weekends. That is neat! So the yucky part starts..packing and leaving this place in a reasonable state. So we load up the tools needed for the jobs we wanted to get done,enough dog food to fed the crazy beast as he goes like mad up there and eats three times what he does here and outdoor clothing and food...oh geees it takes alot to get on the road. And off we go not knowing what lays ahead. The trip from hell.

O.K. ...it could have been worse,I am probably over dramatising but I also feel I'm getting too old to find any of it amusing any more. Adventure it was not!!! We are headed across the 401 and the truck starts jerking,Hubby,his normal calm annoying self says ...nothing to worry about! Sure! Easy for him to say as he doesn't get tense...I do! (see the taking down of range hood!!!!) ( I think I have good reason to be this way!) (He has worn me down to nervous idiot!)  So he switches gas tanks as the truck has two tanks and it appears the one that has all the gas in it isn't working. Great! Need to drop a wad to fill the one tank that is working. Onward!!! Of course! My pleas of returning home due to what I see as a truck breakdown is ignored and noted as a weak moment. So,now on the highway headed north and the brake light comes on. Sane people see that as reason to get tense...not Hubby. Who needs brakes? I mean they're nice for stopping and all but do you really need them?? Nah...in Hubby's world they are just not necessary,an expensive extra as it was. We stop and he tends to the missing brakes.  So more money and the brakes are again there...or so he tells me. The powers that be are telling us something but Hubby is too....well "hubby like" to listen. One the tank,two the brakes and three!!! The storm hits,blizzard conditions and turning on the wipers causes this sound also from hell and the wipers refuse to move. Great!!! Fine,stay calm...that's three, comes in threes,that's it. Again I put it more bluntly...I WANT to go home!!!  Now you wonder how I am the way I am??? I blame him. He doesn't rattle. I'd like to say that this stuff never happens but that's not the case. But when it does he doesn't get upset...therefore it's up to me to take up the slack. I do.

So I feel the gods and powers that be have done their worse and we have arrived to spite all odds near the end of our trip and what else could go wrong??? Haaa,haaa,that one got answered by the cloud of vapour as the hose puts all the antifreeze out of the engine. So learn by this...if the gods are feeling really snarky it doesn't end in three.

My son greeted his frantic Mother and all too calm Dad and totally went out of his way to aid and he made sure the parts and repairs were done before he left. He bought a special dinner and bought me a gift "just to make you happy!" and I was so surprised.  I have always known he was a kind and very generous soul but he went overboard without fan fare or hype and just did it. So maybe the powers that be wrecked havoc with the trip to remind us how wonderful our son is but they didn't have to cause I know that.

Son left at the end of Sunday and we were so involved with truck repairs that the majority of what we wanted to get done wasn't!  I did go down to the lake and chip the huge row boat out of the ice. I had to take a metal bar and break the ice which is already 4 to 6 inches deep from around the boat. Takes a huge effort! The boat needs the ice and water taken out,for that job I lie on the dock and get soaked from the ice melting under me and trying to bail out the poor neglected boat. I ,to prove I could still manage some tasks,decided I would do this myself. Massively stupid but I did get it out from being stuck in the ice and under the dock and got it turned over on land. Geessss,that was soooo hard,really needed two to do it but I did it!

Monday comes and the windows are to go in. The installers show up and I talk to the guy as Hubby takes the dog for a walk. I do know my stuff and I know the proper install for this kind of window. I suggest that they were ordered wrong and are a size too small. The brick molding should cover the outside by at least 2 inches. Nah,the guy says he can do a good install. So I tell him it's my son's place and I want a profesional install. So long story short the one window was put in and guess what? Wrong size and they are being re-ordered...geessss!  We will go up again to be there for the windows and to hopefully get the snowblower working as the drive is long and windy and a hazard to navigate already.

So in a weekend that everything goes wrong,costs money you don't have and was scary...I know,only me looks at it that way...you are forever greatful for having a wonderful son.  Janice..don't read this one! I'll write one for you when I'm more rested!! Heee,heee,you'll like it better!

I love this! Crazy Canadian weather,who could not feel alive in this!!! It started in the wee hours, tons of ice pellets and freezing rain. I was the crazy Lady out at 5 in the dark raking. Yes.yes,sad but I admit it. There is a reason...be it maybe not a good one, but after using all the leave bags up,and I have bought tons of them,  and this being the last pickup...well it's a reason!!! LOL!!! So putting out the garbage left one pail...so made sense in my way of thinking to get the huge pile of leaves from the curb and the ones under the spruce. I was able to skate here and there getting the rake weeee...getting the pail...weeeee!! Sliding the pail over to it's place by all the bags was a bit harder cause it wanted to go downhill and I wanted to go straight over to the huge line of bags and without traction gravity wins. I was having such a ball sliding here and there and so what if the cars slowed down to see what I was doing in the dark sliding here and there! It was fun. Not often you get hard work to be that much fun! So I slid the garbage out,slid the four containers of recycle out,slid the leave bags and pails all into place and then had time for free style sliding!!!

Going to start my day of raking and getting outside ready for the big freeze coming in at the end of the week. I was thinking that Izzy will be at her Yankee Thanksgiving with her little crowd of kiddies,hope they have a safe and uneventful trip. I wonder what dear Janice will be up to? I hope not raking as her and I keep telling each other to take it easy. I wonder if that does any good??? LOL! Helen better be getting ready for a certain young lady's birthday. Lui will be chasing Jaydee and hopefully Jaydee will stay safe this week,no boo-boo's would be great!! And I think Jess is over her boo-boo streak,thank heavens! I wonder if emmie is baking pastries for Chloe and Kylie??? I know Kathryn is peering through the rain to see where her summer house will be. Cazza is probably running doing things for this and that!!!  Geee,that Girl keeps busy!  I know Fi is thinking about people's wellfare while looking after her little sweet three and Molly who I hope is doing well.  I think the other Fi must be starting a countdown for her man to return. I feel for her but I know she'll make it through. I think of Deb a lot these past weeks so I really hope all is well with her,special Lady there!  All that I read and think about cross my mind during the day and you send a vibe for healing or well being or peace. I think of all the wonderful people here and hope for their day to be wonderful and to find some happiness,even if just little like appreciating those around them or thinking for a moment how beautiful the day is. I must say a lot of my thoughts are going to next May when I'll hug Janice!!! As it goes along and becomes more real I get more excited. So as I get busy today I wanted to thank all those mentioned and those I haven't mentioned for touching my life and enriching it so! I'm so lucky and thank you!

Some times I see people look at their children and see some thing other than what is there. Some see strong capable children when that is not the truth. Others see nothing when there is so much talent just waiting for encouragement. In a lot of cases I know personally parents have not known what their kids are into or doing. I know in one case the child was dealing drugs as the mother was telling me how he was accepting their fall from finacial standing due to a seperation and new living standards. Oh boy, what I know about some kids,I told parents if I could not get through and effect a change but some people really don't stop and see their offsprings.

But this week I found out how well I do know my eldest daughter. She is working ever so hard and giving up so much to break into the teaching profession. Not easy to do here at this time. It takes on average five years from graduating to get a full time position,tough on young people. She has several degrees and is now in her second part time position. So she is still new. This week put her to the test. She has not really gotten over the death of her one student and that was hard. She feels deeply and is very direct in what she expects and is willing to give. She is one that the world is to be appreciated and she does so but she expects a lot. But she is also very forgiving of short comings of friends and family. But to this girl right is right and wrong is wrong and to be stamped out. So at a meeting she was aproached by an other new teacher and they talked after the meeting. They were joined by this other teacher's Teaching Assistant. In Ontario if you teach troubled or changelled students you must have a certain ratio of adult to sudents. In the conversation she was told by the new teacher that her T.A. was hitting the students and she had been unable to get the T.A. to stop this. My daughter was shocked. When the T.A. joined the conversation she confirmed that she did do this action. My daughter voiced her opinion on that not being right and said she needed the new teacher to do something about it. On going to school in the morning my daughter found nothing had been done so she went ahead and made a formal complaint. She then had to follow up to make sure that something was to be done. So...she is willing to go on record on hear say to report this. These are challenged students at the grade 10 level that are being hit,my daughter sees it as abuse. It is. Due to the hear say nature,not directly seeing it ,they were not going to act on it. She stood up to the principal,is risking not being hired again and made sure it was acted on. Good for you Baby!!! In a perfect world this wouldn't happen and in a perfect world you wouldn't have had to press on for it to be made right. I admire you putting the students a head of your self. I admire that you will face the higher ups and stand firm in what you believe. She now is in a police investigation and the other teacher is upset with her for reporting and she is worried about her contract and future due to the reactions she has gotten.....but....you are my Hero! I love and so respect everything you stand for and are.

Help,oh help...rarely do I ask for help but yesterday I was praying!!! My Hubby did a job that foolish me has wanted done for a long time. Good you think! Wrong,so wrong,it all went so wrong but then again there's an up side...no one was killed,I did not die of heart failure and the house is still standing. So maybe dear(term used very loosely) Hubby is right and I "over-reacted". Yah,right!!!

Here's how it unfolded seeing I seem to be making a long story out of it!!! Who me???? Heee,heee! Well,anyhoo,job was the range hood needed to be taken down and painted or cleaned up. I walked passed and saw Hubby starting to unhook the hood. Question,did you find the circuit? Don't need to! You aren't going to cut the curcuit??? Don't need to. My voice higher,you don't think it would be just a little safer to do that with the curcuit off? ...Nah,I'll just cap it when I get it down.

 I have a strong fear of hydro,being the target of several rather severe mishaps with it. I was knocked out while 7 months pregnant by a bolt from a broken heater,burnt by an broken appliance and once wired a ceiling fixture that didn't go well and I got hurt. So I stay back out of respect. My Hubby has wired all sorts of things and been hired to do lots and is a total wiz at it. But when you are really good at things you get into the tendancy of taking sort cuts. So still pushing for the safe way which was like talking to a stone...what if there's something that you don't know about? Let's find the curcuit... Oh Marg,let's just get it done,stop worrying. Ever heard that??? That is warning enough that you are going to be right and the man...ever so wrong. But... I was talking to a man bent on doing it his way. The totally unsafe way. Needless to say...all hell broke loose. Hubby started to lower the range hood that holds the exhaust fan and lights and it's an older one,quite heavy and then you hear it.... The unmistakable hiss of electricity warning you to take cover...RUN!!! Then the zapping and loud banging and the fireworks in the kitchen sparking and blowing from the ceiling to floor. There's Hubby still holding the hood looking at me. He's calm!!! I AM NOT! I ask...what do I do??? I flew for the fuse box and pulled the ones that stated they were the right ones to pull,could hear that the hissing and light works had not stopped. I ran back and asked what do I do...glad to see that hubby was not fried.YET!! He calmly says ...well if the fuses didn't work where are my gloves? Where..where...how the ..BLEEP did I know where the gloves where??? So off I race looking for the electricians gloves that might insure my Hubby was not cooked. So why did these not enter the scene when the job started??? Because he's a man. That totally explains it and I'm thinking this while tearing every thing apart looking for the gloves. Can't find them..race back to see he's still O.K. ,thank the powers that be and ask what can I do??? He's say the gloves would be good...I'm lossing it so I yell ..where are they???  He tells me and I am able to return and then the sparking gets worse and I scream....The house is going to catch on fire after you are electricuted!!! He gives me that look. That darn look of ...Oh come on, it's not that bad. This infuriates me and I take matters into my hands. I raced to the fuse box and pulled every darn fuse that I didn't know what it was. The place is quiet.

He calmly pulls the hood and caps the wires and I say,My god we couldn't just have pulled the fuse FIRST????? Then he says...get this!!! Why are you yelling??? MEN!!!MEN!!!MEN!!!! Why am I yelling???? Typical man thing to do and damn if they don't act like nothing happened. Then he goes to the fuse box and says...you had to pull them all?? Yes,yes I did..cause god knows why I thought it important to stop the fireworks before the fire started and then there was the little matter of you hanging onto a metal hood attached to live full volt wires...so yes I felt it necessary to pull all the fuses.  I walked away because killing him was starting to look like the right thing and I had to remember I was glad he didn't get fried.

My eldest son took me back in the weekend,took me back to the time when we were waiting for him to enter this world. I saw it. I saw that look of knowing that something was so much bigger than you. I felt that when I was pregnant with my first. We had  the horrific car accident and things had gone wrong all the way along. The pregnancy was iffy from the moment of the accident and steadily got worse to the point of it being suggested that it not continue. I had been run over and had been in a coma and I was filled with glass. I still carry some of that glass in my spine. Oh,to be so old that safety glass wasn't around or seat belts!!! Does that age me! Well it was an older car that we had,a 1969 G.T.S.. I remember the total sense of panic when we brought home our little bundle and didn't know what to expect!! That was the look I saw on my son's face. Not knowing what's ahead. He's smarter than us though,we thought we could handle everything alone and he already has put out the request for aid during the learning process. At least he does see it as a learning process!!!  What made us think we could do it all? We were younger...geeee...and I guess dumber!!!  Maybe the tread for parents to be older and more established is a good one. We were unabashed and went ahead full force and full flung into parenthood. We really had no idea. I can say that now but then??? No..I was so sure,so confident that we could do it . I saw that little glimmer of fear. I know that look! I feared that I really would do something wrong. I would somehow, out of not knowing what the heck I was doing,  harm this little thing that I loved more than life it's self!! I can laugh now but then it wasn't funny at all. I watched like a hawk everything,I watched when I should have been sleeping,I drove myself so hard to have everything prefect. Crazy!!! So if asked for advice i will say,relax. It was the best advice that I was given but you have to be in the mode to hear it,relax! It seems simple enough but it isn't. I wish I had choosen to breath in and relax but we were so alone. Ohhh,maybe that is the gift that Grandmothers can give! I wonder if this is were my meandering little mind is going??? Heeee,heee,it has been on my mind...how do you be a good Grandmother???? Maybe when those looks cross your Baby's face,the ones you know because you've been there,maybe you will be there so they can relax.

Heee,heee,I know I go on(and on!!) about trees and it's probably totally boring,I'm probably the only one here that writes about trees,other people have lives,I have trees!!! But here goes again... Geeee,this is getting embarassing but it was neat...This morning because we had such a heavy frost the spruce outside had a layer of ice on the needles. As it started to melt when the sun hit it,it was quite bright and looked like the tree was covered in fiber optics,every colour of the rainbow shone off the tree for about 20 minutes,I thought of Janice and her Christmas tree all lit up!!!  Then I saw that we have the birds migrating down to the south already. There are a group of cedar waxwings,beautiful birds and lots of big loud and very interesting bluejays,they have taken to stealing the dogs food and can eat several large dog food chuncks before the dog takes exception to birds walking in his dish. On the up side (or not!!LOL!!) bunny and dog are still getting along...go figure????  This wild bunny has been here over a year now,happily eating everything. In the dry spell he ate all our plantings,when it got even drier he ate the roses up about 2 and a half feet,as tall as he could stand. Poor roses,I do hope they come back! So ...I think I'll go out now and try to find something interesting to do with myself!!! Have a good day all! p.s....heee,heee,don't forget to hug a tree today..it makes you feel so much better...as long as no one sees you! (that can identify you!)

Ahhh,so tired! I really need a break or change or something!!! Money would be soooo good!!! That would solve some things,and make others seem to go away! I hear the well off have problems too...but they just don't notice them! LOL!!! Anyhoooo,I did have a wonderful weekend. I had my two daughters come and stay over ! Yippy!!! And my son and his wife stopped in during the evening and my eldest son came for supper last night and we had a great visit! I love to see them catch up with each other,they were surprised to see each other here so it was neat! They always have been close but things are different now. Now they really are so glad to see each other and know what fortune is to run into each other and be able to talk and laugh together. They all lead such busy lives and the time to be together is seen as being so very valuable now. Funny and also scary that the older you get the more value time has. As a child time has no meaning or very little. It's this thing that parents force on you...time to eat,time to go to bed. As you enter school time has to be managed. Teens loose time easily and as young adults with family and jobs there is never enough time. You start to look forward to having time when your family is grown...but then can you enjoy that time??? I fear the time when you have time but nothing to fill it with. That to me would be a horror. Geee,I think that's why this last year has been hard..I was forced into all that down time and couldn't move...such wasted time. Well the time watching my kids was wonderful this weekend. I sit like a little puppy watching them. My ears pick up at mention of new stuff I know nothing about. Heeee,heee,what a thought!!! Good thing I was patient in teaching them because now they return the favour and patienly tell me what I ask. Ohhhh..how the tables have turned!! LOL!! I love what they bring into this house. I treasure it so much! They bring love and life unfolding and fears and confidence and fun. Thay care so much how the other is doing and they respect each other so much. I am truely blessed to have these people so fun of life in my life. They brighten it so. I feel for the challenges they face and I admire how they conduct themselves. So this is a great time in ones life. Just I miss them when they are gone.

Today is the day! Funny but these passages as you get older are sort of waited for and today's the day the leaves come down. It's kind of a magical thing to see. The trees have lost leaves as they do here in Canada at the start of the fall season into the last of fall. I guess it's Mother Nature's way of preparing the trees for the winters snows. If you listen to the weather people it's to be a light winter. Heee,heee,my spidy senses say not. The little caterpillers are very densly furred. I know you have probably heard of this as a way to predict winters...but it does work,other signs are offered by Mother Nature so you can notice them or not or just wait to see if we do get totally snowed in. We have had several frosts off and on through the past weeks. But the one last night was very heavy. So this morning everything looked white and the trees react to the severe cold. I awoke in the dark and as the sun rose you could see it start! The bright large leaves of the maple were the first to catch the sun as it rose over the hill. The gentle cascade of leaves was so beautiful! As the sun touched the tree and warmed it enough the leaves let go of their last hold. A gentle drop and they fell in large archs to the ground,the locus in the next yard was next to go. The large stemmed leaves fell as little ovals letting go of the stem or the whole stem dropped. So you saw a little shower of bright yellow with the larger heavier stem of leaves falling through that! In all I thought how exciting to be moving on to the next stage,the coming of winter.

Little Frog was all alone,hop,hop,hop. But he hopped alone and sometimes the lilly pad's seemed so big and so unstable. He saw other frogs ,but this one seemed to big and he was afraid. That one had a strange colour on his leg,again little frog was afraid. So his habit became that when he saw other frogs he hopped the other way. Or if he didn't see them until too late he puffed up to look bigger and stared up into the sky. On one very hot day he was staring into the heavens looking for bugs and before he had a chance to notice Heron was there! Panic,Heron could eat Little Frog in one bite. He froze and closed his eyes waiting for the huge beak to close on him. Seemed a long time?? He was puzzled and opened one eye to see a jet of water hitting Heron in the eye!! What,off flew Heron! Weee,thought Little Frog,I'm safe. There sat frog with the oddly coloured leg!!! Hummm.... croaked Oddly Coloured Frog,he once got hold of me until I thought of spitting water! Oddly Coloured Frog showed Little Frog his proud war wound,the one that had saved his life!! Little Frog was amazed that a frog could not become lunch for a huge terrifying Heron. Oh Happy Day!!! Will you share my lilly pad Oddly Coloured Frog,I'd be honoured!! Oddly Coloured Frog said yes,he would like the company and they could keep an eye out for the Heron together. The lilly pad sunk a bit and leaned but they grew quite fond of each others company.  The hot summer wore on and the froggy friends did everything together but they did notice the bugs becoming scarce. They were getting hungry!!! They noticed Big Frog going here and there. What was he doing? They took a moment to look at each other then desided seeing there was two of them how scary could Big Frog be?? They were quite use now to looking out for each other. Well it took some bravery on their part but off they paddled on the lillypad to see what he was doing. Big Frog looked up to see Oddly Coloured Frog and Little Frog paddling towards him. He was big and round and had a terribly deep voice,but together they were paddling faster to go along side Big Frog. Big Frog thought...geess these two are skinny frogs,not good to make it through the winter!!! So Big Frog shook the ferns he was standing near and neatly zapped two large bugs onto the lillypad. There!!!,  he said in a deep rumbly voice,eat,you're so skinny! Oddly Coloured Frog and Little Frog had never seen such talents! What a neat way to get bugs,and here this frog was sharing,how generous! Why...Big Frog...would you share our lilly pad??? So there they were in the hot summer heat with a way to look out for each other for protection,talents and knowledge to share,a lovely home a that now sat straight in the water perfectly balanced. Could life be better?

O.K.!!!!! I'm still excited but I didn't get "offical" permission to release information. I am going to be a Grandma! Ohhh that feels so good to say to you all. Grandma Marg...and might I say it's about high time!!! But one can not ask...even politely to be a Grandma...there is no way or believe me I would have found it! LOL!!!! My eldest son and his wife desided to be old fashion and not say anything until they were sure because there were problems. But I think to speak of it as a reality is the best. Reguardless! Where is your support if no one knows? My son was here when the first problem hit and he tore out of here tense, white as a ghost and I thought the worst was happening to someone. To those other parts of me that offered total support I can't say thank you enough. So,the excitement is huge...I will not spoil this child (MUCH!),I will never go against the parents wishes( as long as I don't get caught!) ,I will never laugh at bad behaviour( out loud!). I will in all honesty, seriously love this little person with my whole being,dream for the wonderful future this Baby will have,teach this child the wonders of this world (of course I'll start with nature and science) and be there to watch. I want to be able to watch the eyes find wonders on their own,I want to watch this child develop love and empathy and become an intelligent thinking idividual. I would like to be there to see the first,words ,steps, school, dates and somehow avoid the crushing rejections and hurts and heartbreaks... but I can't do that. To deny life and it's negatives would be to produce half a being. Sad but those have value too. So that is my beyond wonderful news and I'm so,so,so pleased to be able to tell you all and so ,so, pleased to be a goofy,gone over the top with excitment Grandma!!! A lot of you are already Grandma's and any pointers will be gladfully received because this is my first Grandchild...I think it's a boy but the old fashion couple are not going to find out! Have a great day everyone!