That's Some April Fool's Joke

Why is it, no matter what the topic, Mother Nature always wins? The gals of the Stanley Coop did not appear impressed this morning. Come to think of it, neither was I...

"You've gotta be kidding me."

"Now where do we go?"

And then they started chanting, "5 degrees, 5 degrees..."

They're under the coop now plotting their revenge. Oh, and Nolan's wearing shorts today.

Bzzzzz

I put in about half an hour at work this morning before I grabbed my jacket and headed back out the door. I had a meeting to attend. With a bit of a kick in my step, I walked across the parking lot. "Hmmm," I thought, "the truck has an odd lean to it." As I stepped around the back end I glanced toward the front tire. Flatter than a pancake. Crap. Well, I had no time for such annoyances, so I went back into the office and asked a coworker if she'd mind driving me to the school. She threw me her keys, warned me about the state of her van (it was immaculate compared to the truck) and waved me on my way.

After parking down the road, I walked up to the entrance and met brother Enos. As it was cold and drizzly, we waited inside for a bit. The bell rang, kids gathered in their classes, O Canada played out over the PA, announcements were made and then the mass exodus to the front steps. Kids, teachers, staff, Principal and members of the community (including Paul who had just shown up) gathered outside to greet the special guests that were minutes away. Someone started the wave and everyone joined in. Then, the sirens...

...and the Cops for Cancer team, with members from the Peterborough Lakefield Police, OPP and RCMP, arrived. A loud cheer went up and the 2011 Pedal for Hope was underway. 

After lots of high fives, the team parked their bikes, we all gathered in the gym and the party began. A beach ball appeared and bounced around the room while loud music rocked the place.  Soon, things settled down and introductions were made. A video was shown explaining why the team pedals 1000km every spring and thanking all the kids, from 50 schools, who helped them reach the million dollar mark in 2010. Messages of congratulations from Dion Phaneuf, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jordan Staal who'd played junior hockey with the Petes were included. 

Then it was time for head shaves and ponytail donations.

Cammy and his buddy Nate getting buzzed right down to the wood

A couple of the cops kicked things off with a shave and about twenty kids donated their hair. 

What have I agreed to?

Finishing touches then off to get a Pedal for Hope ball cap.

More buzz cuts on the stage while Cammy shows off his cueball

A few more games and then the ice cream eating contest. Five to a team, girls against the guys. In the video shown earlier, three players from the Canadian women's hockey team noted that girls rule. The ladies-ice-cream-eating-team didn't disappoint...including Riley who had somehow made the cut.

Things rapped up with one final song. The kids jumped to their feet and, along with the members of the Pedal for Hope team, everyone danced to Cha Cha Slide. Well, everyone but Enos, Paul and me because we'd never heard of it before. We're so not cool.

Oh, and as of this morning, Cameron has raised $510 for pediatric cancer. Yea Cammy!! And thanks to all of you who have donated to support him. Woooo!

As for the truck, the tire's been replaced (it was beyond fixing) and it runs like a charm. Paul was fairly soaked to the skin, lying on the pavement in the downpour, changing the tire. I, being the devoted partner that I am, was only slightly less soaked, as I stood in the rain offering moral support. Might have cracked a joke here and there too. It's what I know.


 
AC DC it's not, but it is kinda catchy, y'all.

***

You can read more about the Pedal for Hope, here.

******

UPDATED APRIL 22ND:

I've been asked how people can help out. If you'd like to make an online donation (no pressure), please follow the link below. It's the Westmount PS Pedal for Hope fundraiser page through the Canadian Cancer Society:

http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/CopsforCancer/COPS_ON_?team_id=248919&pg=team&fr_id=9734

Then click on 'make a donation' by the flashing red "100%+".


You can also follow the in-school progress here:

http://www.westmountpublicschool.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=browse&id=114425&pageid=180
  
And THANK YOU!

I. Am. Not. Impressed.

April. Not funny.

I blame Paul, who put the toboggans away this week.

* Updated to add:

And it's sticking. Pfft.

The Water's Fine

Do you remember this time last year? No? Well, take a look here. No doubt about it, last April was exceptional. Warm, warm, warm. Fast forward to 2011 and Environment Canada has predicted a cooler than normal spring. They definitely called that right. It may not be warm enough for swimsuits, but that's not gonna keep winter-weary kids and their dogs from playing in the water.

Snow's almost gone

Where's the ball?

Basking in the sun

Yep, life is good.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Last night, as I sat at the computer, Cameron called down from bed and asked if there was lightening. I told him no, I hadn't seen any and it was time for sleep. Minutes later, he asked again. I got up and took a look out the window and sure enough the sky lit up to the north. And then again. I don't think we saw any rain here but the winds sure did howl during the night. Neither Paul nor I slept very well. It's nights like that when you wish you were young again. Kids can sleep through anything.

Considering I wasn't going to work, I was up fairly early this morning (I beat the kids!) and when I opened the blind I couldn't believe my eyes. The snow was all but gone! Between the above freezing over-night temperatures and gusting winds, just about every speck of not-so-white stuff had melted. I think I did another happy dance.

Snow's all but gone!  Yesterday it looked like this...

Around eight, as Paul and I were chatting at the kitchen table, I noticed a truck go by loaded with logs. Uh-oh. Missed our driveway. Paul ran out and got his attention and soon he was backing up and then making his way up our driveway. After a brief discussion about where to unload, he parked, steadied the trailer and set to work.

Steady as she goes

After the first trailer was unloaded, we offered him a coffee and chatted for a bit. Then, he moved the truck along a bit, ascended the ladder of the crane and set the second load of logs down. Took him no time at all. We paid him and wished him well, then he backed out onto the road and off he went. Always amazes me how easily some people can handle a truck and trailer. Takes me about thirty tries to back the tent trailer into a chosen spot. On a good day. (Ah, who am I kidding? I leave that to Paul. Takes him twenty tries.)

That's a lot of wood to cut...but, look! The snow's almost gone!

Once it's all cut and split, we should end up with about 12 to 14 bush cords of wood. Enough to see us all through another winter.

Spring Is Sprunging

But, shhh, let's not say that too loudly for fear of jinxing it.

At work on Monday, I saw, resting in a tree, the first robin of the season. I was on the phone at the time and was so excited that I interrupted the caller (it was just a coworker, so he doesn't really count anyway) and let him in on the sighting. My toes tapped a little happy dance under my desk. We've been hearing the Canada geese this week and saw a large vee of them today. And, thanks to thawing ice, I spotted a colourful mallard swimming happily in open water too. (I could tell by the big smile on his face.)

Warm enough today for sweaters and no mitts

It's March break in these parts, so I'm taking today and tomorrow off and hanging out at home with the chilluns. Ri's off at a friend's place overnight and Paul's at work so it's just the boys and me. And Rosie, of course. The temperatures are becoming more spring-like as we're treated to above zero as much as below, now. You can smell the changing season in the air. Actually, that would be mud. The snow disappeared from over the septic tank a couple weeks ago and the grass is slowly emerging from beneath its winter blanket. (In other words, the grass is riz.) The chickens eagerly stumbled out of the Stanley Coop today to take a look around. They stuck pretty close to home for a good while as there's still lots of snow around but, eventually, they got brave and ventured further. Chicken poop on the porch is proof of that.

"Hey, guys; keep an eye out for that big furry thing while I look for bugs."

Tomorrow we have a load of logs coming. We're going in on it with Paul's brother and sister and, when all is said and done, there'll be three well-stocked houses with a season's worth of firewood. The chainsaws are tuned up, the splitter's ready to go and the hope is that the job'll be done before the blackflies show up. Damn things can drive a sane person mad. And Paul completely around the bend. 

So here's to spring my friends. And to St. Paddy. Hope you had a cold green beer tonight.

The Changing Face of Mother Nature - Down at the Bog

Winter fun on the frozen bog

  Spring has sprung...the snow has melted...and the weather's warm

Dog days of summer - lush and full of colour

Just a Few More Weeks

A couple posts back, I mentioned the danged blackflies. Well, they're out in force now, swarming and biting and generally living up to their pesky reputation. Lucky for us, with a bit of a hot spell they'll be gone...unlike Northern Ontar-i-o--i-o, where they don't disappear 'til Hallowe'en. Just a few more weeks...





While you're here, you've gotta watch the "Log Drivers Waltz" too. Why, I remember, back in the day, walking single file down the hall with my Duke of Edinburgh classmates to the empty classroom with the blinds. There, we'd all take a seat on the floor while our teacher set up the film projector. Remember projectors? With the lights dimmed, we watched many a film by the National Film Board. The "Log Drivers Waltz" is classic Canadian. And look, there's a moose in this one too. We're such hosers. You gotta love it. Eh.

The Drill, Part One

Cameron had his first ever filling this morning; not that a cavity is something to be particularly proud of, mind you. He survived quite nicely and promises to brush for longer than seven and a half seconds at a go and even said he'll floss. He'll be back in the chair after school on Wednesday for the The Drill, Part Tooth. (sorry, sorry)

Ri's in town at a sleepover, celebrating her friend Yasmine's birthday, tonight. Paul's at brother Enos' place to watch the...meh, whatever. Seems to me it has something to do with a bunch of rednecks in cars turning left 'though its name escapes me. Mercifully.

That leaves the boys and me. We've settled in for the night with a fire and the hockey game. It's been a miserably cold, wet, blustery and at times snowy day and the fire's done a nice job keeping the chill at bay. Cammy and I are cheering on the Habs (I can't believe I'm saying that) while Nolan's going with his man, Sid the kid. During the intermission, Paul called to let Cammy know that Pittsburgh's up two - zip. Nolan, with his helmet on, grabbed the phone to say hello. Paul said something, to which Nolan loudly replied, "I can't hear you; I've got mine helmet on!!" He's awfully cute.

He Shoots! He Scores!!

First of May

On the first day of every month, we have a little tradition. First, you pinch and punch the person you're getting, and then you say with great exuberance, "Pinch and a punch, the first of the month, and no returns." The same applies for the last of the month, changing, of course, "first" for "last". Mum taught us that one when we were young'uns and I'd always figured it was a English thing, until my British cousin told me she'd never heard of it. So, I've no idea where it comes from. The kids love it, though.

This brings me to the first of May. Ready?

"First of May!
Pinch bum day."

Oh, come on. Don't tell me you don't do that too.

I'll leave you with a picture or two of my bloomin' apple trees.

I don't think I've ever seen this many blossoms on them

Let's hope we get lots of apples!

Parties and Roadtrips

The boys' had their birthday party on Friday. We tried a combined one this year as they both wanted to go to Play Street and neither wanted to invite all that many kids. I think, total, including mine, there were eleven kids. Oh, wait, brother Enos would make it twelve. He did seem to be having a pretty darn good time.


Today, Dorito came up...and it was really freaking early for a Saturday. She informed me that she even went out and did her grocery shopping before she headed out. She was at our place about 8:30. The woman needs help. After a coffee (that I so desperately needed), we loaded up the boys and went up to Enos' place. There, we gave Kokanee and Willie big pets and scratches behind the ears. (Kokanee's been living with Enos since shortly after Waylon died. Kokie and Willie are brother and sister and are good company for each other so we figured this was best.) Next we took the backroads into Lindsay where we found a little restaurant for breakfast. Or, if you're Nolan, fries. Breakfast of champions, I'm sure. Then, with bellies full, we continued westward to check out the Kawartha auction barn in Woodville. As we drove, the sky became darker and the clouds opened up. It rained pretty good. Once there, we checked out the poultry and rabbits and then wandered to the sale ring where they were auctioning off sheep. By the time we left we were pretty wet. It was kind of fun, though.

Baby It's Cold Outside

You know, every April it happens and yet, somehow we're surprised. Blustery wind and, don't say it, snow. We had a taste of it tonight. Glad the peas and radishes are tucked into their soil and compost beds. Glad, too, that the snow didn't stick. Ah, spring.

And Away They Go

Heading out for a little treat on a beautiful spring day

Easter Morning, Take I

If you have kids, you know that there are two days each year when the time that you awake is indelibly stamped on your brain - Christmas and Easter.

6:47am - the easter egg hunt begins

Easter Morning, Take II

We cheated this morning and, after all the chocolate was collected, those of us over twelve went back to bed.

Greeting the day a second time with coffee on the porch.

You'll Never Guess What The Kids Did Today, Dear

Here it is, April 2nd and we hit about 24 degrees today. Record shattering for sure. The kids were out back, which, in the spring, tends to mean muck, soakers and ear to ear grins. After a bit, they all came running up to the house and Ri yelled, "Mum, can we put swimsuits on?" I looked at her like she was half baked and said yes. What the heck. It was sunny and warm. Into the house they ran and then, moments later, four children zipped by in a blur. A little time went by and I went to check out the action. Cammy was on his way back, a little muddy, kinda wet and barefoot. His dirty crocs had wet grass hanging from them. Oooh, this probably means trouble. We wandered back to the bog together and then, suddenly, the reason for the mud, wet skin and bare feet became clear...

the water's a little deeper than I'd figured...

...the gang's a little wetter than I'd figured...

...and they're considerably nuttier than even I'd figured.
And, Nolan looks like he's got something
growing out of the top of his head.

Not bad for the beginning of April. Better not get used to it, though - there's a chance of flurries in the forecast for next Friday.

Life Returns

While supper was cooking last night, I hung out on the back deck, taking in the beautiful spring day. It was around 5:30 or so and still about 15deg. out there. The weather is unbelievable for this early in the year.

As I leaned on the railing, the robins, red winged blackbirds, and others put on shows for their potential mates. The dove has returned from the south and taken up its perch on the roof peak at the north end of the house. A robin splashed below. In the distance to the east, I heard ducks. And then two Canada geese appeared in the sky and floated down behind a hill.

I put my shoes on and went out back to see if I could catch a glimpse of the pair in the pond. Unfortunately, they heard me coming and off they went. But seconds later, with a 'quack quack', two ducks arrived and took their spot in the same pond. I came up over the hill and spotted them. As I readied my camera, they, in turn, spotted me and flew off. I'll have to work on my approach.

The pond is the same one that the kids skate on in winter. Full of water in the spring, it's dry and grassy by late summer. The time for observing ducks and geese is now. I will try again.

Hanging Out

What else would you do on a beautiful day,
but hang out with a squirrel?

Can You Hear The Quiet?

It's beautiful out right now. The temperatures have dipped - I think we're at today's high of zero - but the sun is shining and it's so very quiet. No kids running around. No cars zooming by. Just the sound of chickadees chirping and the odd dove cooing.

Nolan's at his friend's birthday party in town. Paul was good enough, not only to take him to the party, but to also take the other two rugrats and run some errands while he's there. He's so brave. Ri's friend Pauline is having a birthday sleepover tomorrow in Oshawa, so they're going to pick up a gift for her. This means Paul will have to brave the newish mall with his energetic offspring. And he has a full two hours to put in before the party's over. Oh, I shouldn't laugh so. Think I'll have a cold beer waiting for him when they get home.

And The #1 Reason Why We Don't Have Carpet...

Spring.

That wondrous time of year when the sun changes snow to water. And fields to mud.

When a pond appears in the low spot in the driveway...right at the end of the stone path that leads from the house. Yes, the same one that Nolan fell in on Saturday. The washing machine hummed later that day.

Spring! That glorious season when little rivers form and flow just behind the garden. Yep, the same one that Cameron took a stroll in today. His boots are drying on the furnace grate as I write.

Spring. When the earth awakens from its long winter slumber and the culverts capture the icy cold runoff from the fields above, guiding their treasure through the ditches, under the road, and down the hill. You betcha. Ri. This morning. Water deeper than her long rubber boots. She made it back in clean jeans and dry boots just as the bus arrived.

Spring. I'm grateful for its arrival every year and thankful, too, that I don't have carpet.

Spring.

Kids.

The little river just behind the garden.

We'll call this 'Cammy's Spot'.