No Wonder I Loved the Herb Garden the Moment I Saw the House!

Well, today is a lazy day. I hope it stays that way. I thought I may set the tent up in the backyard tonight and camp out but it looks like rain. Our weather man...Tristen (A keen interest in all things weather) says it is going to, so we may have to put off until tomorrow.

What is the title of this post about...When we came to see our home I loved the kitchen (The most important room to me) and the herb garden (Which I just replanted!). Part of last nights dinner is the reason why - herbed chicken, using Thai basil, columnar basil, golden sage, oregano and lemon grass all from our herb garden! With a little salt, pepper, fresh squeezed lemon and olive oil baked in the oven then freshly grated Parmesan to top it off when it is done! Yummy! the picture on the right is before it entered the oven and above left when it was finished.

So, Dear, that was our day minus the drama - you are already well aware of. Take care and have a good night all.

Hockey school is over!

So, it came to an end and I realized that hockey shots look alike for the most part (Sports photographer aficionado I am not!). I also realize I did not like the mornings 6am and by late afternoon (Sitting and watching and waiting-However, I found I am not good at that either....walk, walk, walk - I have to be moving, so the other Moms mentioned.) I was tired. The boys, however, were pumped, after 3 hours of exercise (2hrs on ice and 1 hr off) they were ready for the day. The pictures above - Tristen wide open, Right Jake got a goal (Then pretended to faint!) and Will emerging from the morning mist on the rink surface.

Meal times were a challenge (We left the house at 7am and returned @ 4pm), as soon as you step into the arena greasy fries beckon and call your name but I brought the cooler and made lunches every night for the following day...yeah, not the idea the boys had in mind but better for them. Yes, I did allow them one day of fries! For dinners, I brought the trusty slow cooker out - roast beef one night, beef stew next day ect..

SO, speaking of cooking...I have gotten away with a few sneaky tricks as of late concerning rising the vegetable consumption of the boys. Note pie to the right, Yes that is a whole wheat crust, but more than that it is a sweet potato and squash pie - passed off as pumpkin! Is it a lie if a promise to tell them later, years later, but you know later? I never thicken gravy with corn starch or flour I hand blend in lots of veggies to thicken it - it is still gravy but with at least 2 -3 servings of veggies. Yes, I will tell them later.....when they have children. For dinner last night quiche (Below).

The Measure of a coach

Well, another day at the rink. Will put his skates on for, basically, the first time 2 days ago and is now skating! Jacob and Tristen are fine tuning their skills and really enjoying time on the ice with their friends. Although, the early mornings are brutal , this is a primer for the start of school.

Why have I titled my post this way because if the measure of a hockey school is determined by its staff then our boys have it made. Chird pictured with Tristen above has been a great mentor for the children in this program. I hear this is his 20th year coaching this hockey school and it isn't hard to tell why they have an integrity and an ability to have the children reach their potential and beyond just because they want to please the staff as much as themselves. We were so lucky to have been introduced to this program. Congrats Chird and staff.

So, Dear that was the day. Will has actually learned to glide, Jacob is starting to handle the puck and Tristen is tweaking and expanding his skills and nursing his blisters...I, however, still have no idea of the rules of the game but am just enjoying watching the boys play. Oh, Dear did you realize all our boys are left handers? Me either - I wish someone had of told me before I bought all those sticks! We miss you Dear and wish you were home - talk to you tonight. Have a good night all and remember to give your Dear a hug.

Tired!

Wow, what a long day! The boys, however felt it went too fast, the first day of hockey school that is. Three boys all different age categories, so classes all at different times - starting at 7:30 am and going until 3:30pm, a long day! Here are a few picture highlights and Dear , I miss you. Have a good day all.

Good Morning Dear!

Hi, well we are up bright and early this morning mostly because of the dogs - they ran off!!ARGHHHHH. After scaring two little black, perhaps, poodles and running amok in the neighbourhood with Tristen trailing behind them I managed to get them in the van and get them home. Not a happy Mom!




So, since we were up breakfast might as well be served. We decided on French toast with fruit topping - see picture. We may go for a hike at the falls today and have lunch. Hockey school starts next week so it will be 5 fun filled days of hockey school photos! Wish you were here Dear...no, not only so you could get up at the crack of dawn to take the boys to hockey....the fence needs painted and other things! Have a good day all - enjoy your weekend.

Quotes from a 5 year old

Mom, I had a bad dream today...I was hideous. Mom, How do you look handsome...Pose...Like this? Mom, all I did was poke him...a little...I am not allowed to do that? Mom, now that I am all dressed up, I want to walk around the block so everyone knows I am a hockey player!

Cool, look at this big bug, Mom come see!!! Mom, I am not screaming! Mom, can I sleep wiff you? Mom, you know how I can't read, why can't I read, I want to read! Mom, do boys have the same germs? Quotes of the day by Will. The things they say - amazing!

Miss you Dear! The picture above left is one we took at Home Depot before you left. He was standing over a fan feeling awfully strong when his shirt began to fill with air, the other is him trying on his equipment to see if it fit - which lead to a walk around the block for all to see our littlest hockey player. Have a good day all. Listen to your children the things they come up with - hilarious and amazing all wrapped up together.

The Fée des Dents Arrives Unexpectedly

Dental woes....it isn't enough that I usually break teeth

at night, while Dear is away, but now dental trouble starts for the boys. Really, it started last year when Will broke Tristen's newly acquired adult front tooth off in a freak golfing accident! Yes, six months later he had to have a root canal and cap -not good. Today, Jacob (yes the want to be dentist) had a small cavity, in a baby tooth, thank goodness. He gets all frozen the dentist takes position - stops and says I think this will be an extraction this tooth is loose - so, the filling that wasn't!

Jacob was a little upset because the dentist put a special mirror in place, so he could watch the procedure! He wanted the filling so he could watch!!! Disappointment over not getting a filling. But he did get new x rays for his wall and a pack of gum - the smile returned ! As you can see from the picture that baby tooth was huge!

Well, we miss you, Dear. You would have laughed if you could have seen the look of utter disappointment on Jake's face when Dr. R said No filling! The pack of gum managed to divert his attention - He was asking if he could watch someone else get a filling then! I hope he stays focused! Enjoy your day all and may no dental woes be in your future.

Oh, yes ,Will survived after striking his brother with the golf club -many nasty looks were given by his older brother as we raced to the after hours dentist. Tristen survived the root canal - with the help of laughing gas. All was well. And Jacob, well, the Fée des Dents is coming - What could be better!

Neglectful

Ok, Ok , Ok....I know I have been neglectful of my blog! The sky looked as I have felt these past few days, but I noted a little teddy bear coming into the light in the picture. With David away, the house a wreck and my Dad ill I feel as though my life is in a whirlwind. Oh, and hockey school starts this month and I cannot believe our 5 year olds start time is 7:30....am! 8 yr old starts at 8:30 am and 10 year old at 12:30pm (This seemed a reasonable start time for all to me!). We will be in a neighbouring town all day everyday for 6 days...Already I am tired.

Yesterday, we cleaned the garage and on the hockey theme again got the bags packed and ready for hockey school. We got the accumulated mess cleaned up, got rid of a few things and swept the floor...I think we need a shop vac, Dear?! It looks good and the boys were a great help.

Last night....well it was a night for looking at the stars and watching for meteorite's. A neighbour joined us in the yard, we had a fire and watched the sky. It was a great night...the only thing missing Dear to snuggle up with.

It has been a few days!

Well, here it is in a nut shell...we have power!! Just yesterday but it is here. Thankfully, I really like being home with the boys and another presence in the house (With the exception of Dear!) disturbs me.


Here is what is new with Dear, an honorary person comes to visit his work place a Canadian. He just happens upon the area meets this woman they speak for about a hour. In the conversation it some how comes up that he has a package for the boys and I - Would she bring it back to Canada for him? Which she immediately agrees to. They meet the next day he gives her the package (Which she refuses to take any money for mailing) and again they talk for another hour, she hands him a CD and a current video compilation not available in stores. Dear thinks nothing of it, other than she is friendly and nice to talk with, has never heard of her and goes on his merry way. The woman...Loreena Mckennit Canadian Celtic folk singer..Hello Dear! I cannot believe it...Thank you for sending our package! There is a video below for your enjoyment!

Bonny Portmore

For those who are not familiar with her work.. Dear....here is a video.

What has been happening here?

Late nights....and still the electrical is not finished, What is the problem you may ask, a broken wire behind a switch plate in a wall! All of the switches have been rewired, changed and the area was still not working. ARGHHHH. Today it will be finished.....place your bets.

But, I the unable gardener have again taken the plunge! I went to the store and herbs were on sale (Yes, Dear the word that enchants and mesmerizes me.) .50 cents a plant!!! So, we have this herb Garden built into the brick work. Which had waist high weeds, which were thrown into the weed mountain. Now, it is a beautiful herb garden again.