After-School Skating

Nolan and I arrived home with some daylight to spare so we dashed into the house and Nolan yelled out, "Who wants to go skating?" Big grins crept across his older siblings' faces and then, "I do!" We gathered up skates and helmets, toques and mitts, hockey sticks and ball, then grabbed the shovel and made our way to the rink.

There's a plastic lawn chair that resides, both summer and winter, back there. Patiently it sat, waiting for its first customer to be laced up. Ri, then Cameron and then Nolan all took a seat as I tied up their skates. And then off they went. What a difference a year makes.

I managed to get a little more of the rink shoveled as the kids showed off their skills. Twilight set in and I found myself looking out for coyotes as I added snow to the pile. A little paranoid, maybe, but the tracks in the snow don't lie. As darkness neared and the skates came off, the boys played a quick game of hockey. "He shoots, he scores!" I heard several times, as the crowd went wild. The big league may have their all-star game but they've got nothing on us. This weekend, I think we'll have our own little hockey tournament. The first annual all-rats game. Go team!

First winter skate

Like Dad Always Says - It's Refreshing Out There

One of the (few) problems with walking out in winter to a driveway cleared by your neighbour, driving on plowed roads and parking in cleared lots, is that you don't always realize just how much snow is on the ground. 

After curling this morning, the kids and I grabbed shovels and headed out back to hunt for ice. Turns out, we have about a foot of the white stuff on the ground...as I found out when my ten-inch tall boots sunk into the accumulated snow. That's always fun. Despite the setback, we trudged out to the bog and got to work. Well, I got to work. Cammy lasted about four-and-a-half minutes before heading back to the centrally heated house. Ri stayed about nine minutes longer. Something about being cold? Babies. -15C ain't that cold. Sheesh.

I spent about an hour-and-a-half shoveling before I decided to call it a day. I was becoming slightly chilled myself. Oh, and my muscles were starting to seize up. The good news, though, is we've got ourselves a rink. And we plan to try it out just as soon as things warm up a bit. -5 would be awfully pleasant, I think. Expansion of the rink will occur once I can lift my arms again.

Houston, we are a go for skating. Oh ya.

Where the Fun Never Ends...

Elaine was up for an overnight stay and we made sure to show her a good time at the backward homestead.

She arrived with Paul around 5 on Saturday and we sat down to a piping hot pan of homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and, um, caesar salad. Okay, okay, the caesar salad didn't exactly go but I didn't hear any complaints. Except from Cameron...but that's typical.

After supper, we cleaned up and played Mouse Trap. Then Nolan won a rousing game of Go Fish. He's getting so good at his numbers.

This morning we were up bright and early and on the road to Omemee for the kids' weekly meetup at the curling rink. There are enough kids now to provide non-stop action on two sheets. Future Olympians there, I'm sure. Once home, we had some lunch whilst playing another game of Mouse Trap and then out we went to breathe in some of that fresh country air.

Paths had been cleared through the bulrushes and swamp grass so today, the boys laced up their skates and glided (I use the word loosely) through the icy trails.

Nolan's helmet needs a little work

Next, we hiked back to the winter fort for a look around and finally we followed a little trail to the south where we found some hawthorns and downed fences. Great for climbing. Well, the fences are, anyway.




As I drove Elaine home, she mentioned that it was a very different weekend.

"Good different or bad different?" I asked her.

"Definitely good," she replied. She'll sleep well tonight.

Sleds and Skates

We've had very unJanuary-like weather for a good week or more and we're in for rain over the next couple of days. The end of January usually means a week or two of deep-freeze but so far, nothing. I'm actually looking forward to the rain, hoping that it will clear out the snow so we can start fresh. But more than that, the rain should greatly improve the rink out back.


The kids were out skating yesterday. We've cleared off a proper rink on one portion and shoveled paths on the north part. This we refer to as Radiator Springs. Riley's a good skater and loves getting out there. Cameron's been a pain in the butt for the last few years as he's refused to lace up. This year I vowed that both boys would at least give it the ole college try. Bribery has helped. After a few Saturdays out there, they both 'skate' around Radiator Springs with grins plastered across their faces. I don't see hockey in their futures but, good Lord, it seems almost unCanadian for them not to learn to skate. Especially when Mother Nature gives them a rink each winter.

Skating is always followed by a few trips down the hill

and across the ice

and the occasional wipeout - great fun

Tomorrow, Ri's class is hosting a bake sale to raise money for the people of Haiti. Secret Ingredient Brownies and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are cooling on the table. The fly swatter keeps thieves away.

Ice Time

Here it is the middle of February, and the kids have their bikes out. Not to say that it's overly warm out there - it's about -3 today - but with the warm temps and rain last week a lot of the snow disappeared. And that means the driveway's exposed and in good shape for riding on. Look at that trike, would ya. It looks just like the one I had as a kid. I found it at the antique market in Aberfoyle last summer. That makes me old, doesn't it?

After a little biking, we gathered up skates and checked out the bog in the back forty. Ooh, a perfect rink. And no shovelling. Yea, for me! Ri and her friend Kaitlin skated while Cammy and Nolan sledded down the kinda grassy, sorta snowy hill and across the frozen bog.


Then Cammy, Nolie and I went for a walk further out (the back forty-seven?) and found three more rinks. Yes. It's true. We're spoiled. The pleasures of living in God's country.


Guess what we're doing tomorrow for Family Day?

~Liz