Fall Pictures

At the pumpkin patch in Shamrock Farms!

They have an AWESOME display of Halloween, with witch and cauldron, captured fairies, eye balls in jars, scary ghosts etc! It was an excellent show! And Ruby wasn't scared not even a bit!

For $.50 a cup you could feed the chickens... Ruby WAS afraid of them.

"Yes, a bottle of milk please, shaken ~ not stirred."

Watch out people!

Me and my kiddies!

Eli loved the animals!

And if given the chance would have ridden a chicken.

Helping pull the wagon!

Mini organic orchard apples ~ YUM!

Ruby's wall FINALLY painted pink!

Eli's black eye. He fell in the tub, split it open and there was blood EVERYWHERE. Massive Mummy freak out, trip to the ER but stitches were averted!

Mummy's mistake, Eli's fun.

My 'naked chef!'

Who needs toys when a Costco box will do?

Bathtime goomba!

....but is it legal to leave them while I go out?

Needing a cuddle 'cause he was snuffly, so he brought me Billy his Goat.

Halloween Preschool Party!

The GF Cupcakes I made!

My 'Yoda Towel Bandits'

Ruby's Halloween Costume... I scoffed at paying the $25 for it not realizing that it had fiber optics and lit up. In the end it was worth the money!

Our pumpkins!

Good use of Nick's drill!

Eli 'helping' me unload the dishwasher.

Half

Well life just keeps truckin' along! And it only ever seems that I'm able to get things 'half' done. *Sigh*
Half the laundry cleaned, half the laundry folded, half of it put away. Half the kitchen cleaned up, half still dirty. Half the bathrooms cleaned, half the dusting or vacuuming accomplished. Half, half, half!

Such is the life of a mother of two small children I suppose! At times I can laugh about it, sometimes cry but mostly I just stand in the middle of the room and rip out my hair with one child running circles around me and the other snotting on my freshly cleaned jeans.

Hopefully you've seen the pictures I was able to finally post... again I really narrowed it down to about half of what I wanted to post but time is always a crunch! That being said I've decided to close my Facebook account so that I don't get my time sucked into the vortex of the cyber world.

Although still exstatic with our house and enamoured with my children the daily grind of half time single parenting is beginning to take it's toll. I'm much of the time, lonely. And despite meeting some great new friends (parents of Ruby's preschool friends) we're all busy at different times and thus don't get together near as often as my heart desires!

The truck needs two ball joints replace at a price tag of $1k which we simply don't have so driving is restricted from the highway meaning I can't go visit family! So the loneliness prevails as the days grow darker and longer :(

Halloween was fun despite Nick not being here. He did send his Mum Brenda to help me which is always appreciated! She brought up some chili and corn muffins! She was SUPER happy to be able to travel up and see our new nephew Kane born the day before Halloween to Nick's younger brother Adam and his fiance Elyse! Haven't met the little gaffer yet but pictures show him lookin' like his Daddy!

Brenda arrived and the work began! Dinner at 4:30 so that we could get into costumes and start knocking on doors for just after 5. I'm amazed I'm not freakin' skinny at the amount of time I spend running and sweating after kids..... But we did it! Ruby was a witch and Eli a skeleton. He could barely walk and couldn't get up after falling over as I had to put his snow suit underneath his costume ... giving him the 'sumo  suit' effect. Brenda and I howled!

It was peeing rain outside but I threw the cover on the double stroller and off we went! We really only did 10 houses but it was enough for the age of our little kids. There wasn't really anyone out due to the weather. As soon as we reached the last house (our neighbour's) Murphy's Law the rain stopped! Oh well!

Ruby was HILARIOUS having to stop after almost each house to weigh the buckets and make sure they were even! God FORBID Eli has more than she!  

Ahhh. She is cute.

Nick is here, there and everywhere, so I just keep them home fires burnin' until his long awaited return. He was home last weekend for a few days before he was off again. But in the time he was home he took on the project of reorganizing the pantry. He's taken all our items and put them into labelled mason jars. It is PERDY!

We also managed to bottle the red wine which we had made from a kit and put in the carbuoy under the stairs in our ahem, 'wine cellar.' It tastes delicious! I was truly surprised! In the next free weekend we will be doing the same with the white wine and in December with the much anticipated rhubarb wine!

Still have a few things to do outside before the really cold weather sets in. The maples shading the garden were dug up and taken away once I'd advertised them on Facebook. Hopefully we'll have the funds in the spring to build the pergola, which will allow light while also providing a bit of privacy from the neighbours.

 I have to say I am EXCITED for Christmas! This will be the first time Ruby really has any understanding of what it is about. I'm just dying to start playing Christmas music but I suppose I'll wait until at least the middle of the month! LOL! Should be fun decorating, and I have lots of ideas. I've even purchased some children's books from Scholastic about the 'true' meaning of Christmas with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Am excited to read them to the kids.... it reminds me of a fight we used to have growing up .... when decorating the Christmas tree we'd always have a brawl over who got to put the 'baby Jesus' ornament up on the tree. LOL! I swear Mum finally got the good notion, when packing up after Christmas to write on a paper napkin taped to the ornament, whomever's had put up the ornament that year. Although we'd always try and swindle her into believing that the name meant whomever's turn it was next year! She was rarely ever fooled!  Let the fun begin!

For now we are simply enjoying the beauty that is fall. All the leaves are vibrant red or brilliant yellow. Our front yard is littered with leaves. Nick has plans to rake them all up tomorrow, I'll put the kids in rain pants and out we'll go to frolick in the piles. The simple things are life's little blessings!

It's been a while......rambling of a scattered mind, chickens aquaponics and other things

Sorry it's been so long since I posted on here! I won't get into everything that has happened, as I am sure Kate has kept everyone up to date.

October is here and zooming along. The onions and garlic need planting. The beds need mulching. the firewood needs to finish being split..... so much to do and so little time!

Anyways, I ramble.... the plan for this weekend is to get enough of the maple rounds split and stacked that I can build a second compost bin so that I can turn my compost over. I also need to get the onions and garlic planted. We had planned on doing a bigger winter veggie garden, but time seems to have gotten away from us.

We were thinking of sneaking in some backyard chickens, but seeing as they are against our current bylaws, I think we will wait until the ruling as to whether or not keeping chickens is a charter right. In the meantime I have been reading into building a green house in the spot we were thinking of putting the chicken coop.

Now here is where the ADHD works at its finest..... you start with chickens, and end up with trout. Let me explain. First off I was looking into chicken coop plans. From there I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to go to the effort of making the chicken coop only to be fined or told to remove the chickens. From there it was a logical step (in my mind) to fill that unused space (have to remember to measure it) with a green house, because then it could get use all year round. From there it was only a hop, skip, and a leap to decide that said green house should be used to house an aquaponics system. Voila! You get trout from chickens.

Image from http://theaquaponicsource.com/what-is-aquaponics/

I am having trouble finding any information on people or systems that have been set up in my area, so I plan on gathering all the information I can and posting it on the blog. Hopefully I can convince the wife that this will be a good idea and use of space. I think the idea of a lemon tree growing in the greenhouse MIGHT have some effect.

cheers for now.

nick

I LOVE crock!

(Pot Cooking that is....)

Sorry it's been quite a while since I've posted but life is just zooming along ~ taking me with it and tiring me out!

The weather has finally turned and I think is here to stay. It doesn't bother me too much as I do LOVE the fall and this year is a bonus with our elongated summer and then the lovely disiduous trees. I know it seems a bit odd but after spending nearly 7 autumns up island where there is only coniferous 'evergreens' it is heart warming watching the leaves turn colour and fall to the ground. Everywhere I turn there are bright and beautiful oranges, yellows and reds. The neighbour's maples are turning and the fallen leaves litter my front yard! I LOVE it!

The kids and I had a FANTASTIC time on Thanksgiving weekend gathering up the leaves into piles and running through them. Then I'd through them in the air like confetti and they'd squeal with laughter and delight! It was such FUN!

Thanksgiving was an amazing weekend; the weather was HOT, Nick had to work overtime so I was largely on my own with the kids. But the cousins arrived on Saturday and everyone was in t shirts during the afternoons. Can't remember a Thanksgiving so hot?

Nana ~ Nick's Mum, came up on the Friday to keep us company for the night while Nick was working. She and Ruby had a blast crafting and playing with puzzles.

Our family supper on the Sunday was a FEAST! My Mum and Dad brought up a cooked Turkey and Ham, my sister made all the veggie sides save for the brussel sprouts'n'bacon dish I made. I then I made those two pies, sweet potato and caramel pecan pumpkin... wouldn't you know I forgot to take any pictures! Sorry! But we did set up two picnic tables in the early evening sun, dressed only in long pants and light jackets and we all feasted until we could eat no more! I put the gravy in my tea pot, my sister had brought chaffing dishes to keep the food warm while we ate. Dad had brought up the turkey ~ cooked in a disposable aluminum foil baking dish and then transported in a large cardboard box which at one time contained a 'jack' for lifting up cars. ... LOL! I know but it kept everything warm for the hour long ride to get up to us in Chemainus!  Don't worry the 'jack' was brand new!

The pies were made by my oldest niece Julia and I. GF pastry turned out well! It cannot be rolled out so I just press it into the pie plate as uniformally as I can. I LOVE the sweet potato pie, but I found the caramel pecan topping on the pumpkin pie TOO sweet! Now if you have a sweet tooth it's incredible but I prefer savoury on my palate!

Home again and the fall weather has set in. But the rides in the morning while cold haven't been too terribly wet yet ~ thank heavens! I did get called a 'Triple Threat!' the other day by a fellow rider! I had the dog with me and she commented, "Dog walking, exersize and saving the environment!" I replied that I was also 'saving money' and she changed my title to, "Quadruple Threat!" It made me smile!

Ruby is doing very well in school and making fast friends! She is now able to stand at the 'waving window' as soon as I drop her off ~ no tears! YAY!

Mostly I go home and tidy up or play with Eli, but yesterday I decided to take him to 'Strongstart' a drop in program at elementary schools (province wide) it is free and for children aged 0-5. Tuesdays they have a volunteer who puts together a 'circle time' specifically geared towards children under 2. Well if Elias didn't just think he'd died and gone to heaven! He was so overwhelmed he kept doing circles in the middle of the class room, unsure of what to play with first! BIG smile on his face! He of course gravitated to the baby 'buggies' and pushed one around the room for a while, then we got into the cars and trucks. There was also a 'tactile' station filled with dry dirt, spades, buckets and fake 'food' to plant etc. He made a mess but had fun! Story time, he stood up in the middle of the room and danced as the leader was singing her songs! Gym time and he RAN, and RAN, and RAN as FAST as his little legs would carry him!!! Bit the dust a few times but got up with a great big smile and kept on truckin!

My plan backfired though ~ I was hoping he'd sleep at home a nice LONG nap but instead he passed out as soon as he got back into the bike trailer. We picked up Ruby and by the time I'd made lunch my legs were jelly and my own eyes could barely stay open but the kids we're rarin' to go! The house a disaster and I just couldn't get off the couch ~ but I'd ridden up and down 3 separate hills! Nick came home and took the kids down to the play room so that I could tidy up. I started dinner and he finished it for me as well as tidying up the kitchen ~ thanks babe!

Garden is nearly all ready for winter. Have a few more things to do, which Nick will try and accomplish this weekend. I think at final tally we harvested near 60 lbs of tomatoes! And I had to give some away as we couldn't eat them all!

SO many plans for next year, I keep having to write them all down so as I remember them. For now I continue to save my plastic milk jugs for two reasons; firstly half filled and tied to fruit tree limbs the weight will train the limbs to grow down and outwards ~ thereby creating more 'open' space between the branches letting in light and air.  Secondly cutting off the bottom of the jug and placing it over some seed starters creates a cheap and easy green house with which to start seeds.

Our list of 'to do' is forever growing but we were actually able to accomplish quite a bit this last weekend. My mother in law aka Nana aka Brenda, came up for another visit bringing; a hat for Eli and goodies that Grammie (my mother made), and a boat load of 'activities for the kids from puzzles to recipes. Ruby had a GREAT time crushing up cereal to make GF 'chicken fingers!'  We went on a trip to Shamrock Farms and picked out some pumpkins! I was able to finish up reorganizing and rearranging the toy room ~ so it is now UBER cool to use in the wet weather! I also painted Ruby's bedroom wall pink! And she helped me plant some spring bulbs out front. ... It is a crap shoot as to them surviving but we shall see!

Elias made his first trip to the ER too! Oh yes, Saturday night and he was in the bath, he ducked his head to avoid getting shampooed and managed to hit the side of the tub at such an angle that he split open his eye lid and it BLED EVERYWHERE! And of course I did what I do best ~ I screamed bloody murder, flipped out, crying hysterically. Nick nearly smacked me! But he put the car seat back in the truck, put my cell phone in my purse and turned on the heat heat while I put Elias in his jammies and then headed to the hospital. We had to call in a favour from a neighbour to bring us a bedtime bottle which I forgot leaving in such haste. Stitches were narrowly averted! Doctor said she was, "...of half a mind not to put in two stitches because it is already knitting together nicely. It's in a fairly protected spot so it shouldn't reopen or get too dirty. As for scaring..." I laughed out loud ~ she was a bit taken a back, but I explained, "You should see my husband's face - I'm not worried about a little scar!" So home we went and he has a nice shiner.

Ruby ~ using scissors her father left out on the counter~  cut her hair RIGHT in front of him. I had a few choice words to say. It is noticeable when her hair is up in a pony tail but thankfully isn't too big a chunk. Still swearing and cursing and FOAMING at the mouth about this one dear.

Life just keeps humming along! We are anxiously awaiting the birth of Nick's brother Adam's first child! Due in the first week of November. Then it is the birthday season followed closely by Christmas. And more birthdays.

What is saving me from sheer insanity some days ~ MOST days~ is my crock pot! It makes life SO much easier! I wasn't raised on crock pot cooking because my dear Mammy has an aversion to food that quote 'touches.' Yes, I know. But honestly I had NO idea that casseroles or crock pot cooking even existed! It has opened up a whole new world of cooking possibilities! I have a few food blogs and facebook pages that I follow for recipe ideas. Several friends also keep sharing recipes! Keep 'em coming girls! Most are successful, some are flops for one reason or another but I like being able to make dinner at lunchtime and have minimal clean up during 'witching hour.'

Any parent will attest to having a 'witching hour,' when nothing but chaos envelopes the house and it seems endless... but it is always darkest just before the dawn!  At 4 pm I start dinner (unless I've used the crock pot) but none the less Nick gets home right around that time so I'm scrambling trying to get the kids to tidy up and get dinner on the table before 5:30. Then one parent baths the kids while the other does the dishes, sweeps and mops the floor and generally tidies up the place. Kids are in bed for 7 and usually asleep before 7:30, at which time we debate whether or not to do one more 'tidy' project before we colapse on the couch and 'rock, paper, scissors' for who's gonna go grab a bottle of wine from under the stairs. We play musical beds all night long and my alarm goes off at 6:10 am for me to hop in the shower ~ and so it begins all over again.

Cheers to happy parenting and crock pot ease! If I have the energy after tonights 'witching hour,' I shall post pics!

Crockery cooking, Canning & Company

Holy SMOKES! It has been a while since I updated our blog! Can ya blame me? I've been a single parent every other week since the 1st of August... and there doesn't seem to be any chance of a slow down in life!

Ruby is LOVING preschool! She's still a tid bit apprehensive when I drop her off, but she seems to not think of me the minute Elias and I leave. And she always has a HUGE smile on her face when I pick her up! I wasn't able to get any info out of her the first 4 classes but she has since opened up and is a chatterbox all afternoon long (on school days!) 

Elias is enjoying his time with Mummy one on one. He helps me clean, or we bike ride into town for a coffee and a play at the park. Last week we were fortunate enough to stumble on a cement truck pouring a new basketball court. He was mesmerized!

Nick is here there and everywhere. It is trying in every conceivable aspect. He went hunting last week and came home skunked without ANYTHING, and the fiasco of picking him up from his brother's at 1 am didn't bode well. There were many a word said on the truck ride home, and I was completely grateful for my mother visiting so I didn't have to disturb the children.

So now we're broke, gonna starve and have a massive credit card bill. But hey, we're still all together, healthy and living in the Valley! God himself was merciful, I left at 11:45 pm to head south, fuming, and near tears and then I turned on the radio and heard; Lee Brice's 'Hard to Love' followed up by Jason Aldean's 'Why?'  So I smiled and kissed my hubby when he finally pulled in, weary, bleary and broken hearted.

Yes, I know we listen to country music!

So home for the weekend with a gigantic'To Do' List. There is SO much to get done before the rains come and I can't possibly get it done without him home. We tackled quite a bit, and made a great team doing it!

Alex the dreamy tree guy was back to grind out the massive tree stumps. Poor fellow spent all day in the blazing sun with this enormous lawn mower looking machine, that has gnarley looking 'teeth' and must weigh 250 lbs, grinding down the tree stumps, flicking dirt up in his face for 8 hours. Must be how he keeps so svelt! He had to come back to complete the job... I know 'poor' me!

But the yard is AMAZING! It's truly hard to fathom how just a few short months ago there were 3, 40+ ft maple trees standing, and now there are just leveled patches of dirt waiting for the grass to grow next spring. Nick and I were so pleased we'd asked Alex to come back to grind out the stumps. The machine is rentable but watching it done really made us appreciate being able to pay someone to do it! Well worth the money! (And the view ;P )

While Alex was grinding out the stumps Nick was making and canning, 'Carrot Pepper Salsa.' Our jungle of tomato plants yielded 20+ lbs of tomatoes that needed to be dealt with. The plants will probably yield another 15 if not 20 lbs ~  near 40 lbs of tomatoes total , not bad for not knowing what we were doing!

Nick was able to get 16 ~ 250ml jars of the salsa but had a bunch of tomatoes still left over. So he made tomato sauce, and had the BRILLIANT idea of breaking out his virgin 'food mill' to process the fruits. He cut them up, boiled them and then put them in the food mill, pressing out the flesh. All that was left in the end was maybe a cup full of seeds and skins. It was impressive! In the end he has 8 ~ 500 ml jars of tomato sauce canned.

While Nick was gone I had the chore of feeding children a minimum of 3 meals per day and tidying up the messes. SUCH a chore! But I have rediscovered my crock pot and a friend turned me on to 'Get Crocked' blog. Made life so much easier!!!! I made German Goulash and the next night Sweet'n'Sour Chicken. I LOVE my crock pot! I was able to make dinner, while I cleaned up lunch and it made those lonely nights go by a little easier with minimal clean up. I fully intend to use the crock more often as Ruby starts swimming in a few short weeks at 5:30 pm smack dab in the middle of dinner hour. Oy vey! Mrs. Crock Pot to the rescue! The blog even boasts crock pot cinnamon buns and other baked goods! I'll try it out!

Mum came up to keep me company and break up my single parent week. She brought with her GF muffins and cookies, which the kids devoured, and Ruby still asks for every morning! I had to promise her tonight that I'd bake muffins with her tomorrow or she wouldn't go to bed! Had to laugh, she'd walked in the door, kiss me and made a mad dash for the loo. (3 hours in the car will do that to a person) But apparently before she knew it she was sitting down and the dog was licking her knees, while Eli was trying to climb up onto her knees and Ruby was telling her ALL about the new shower curtain we'd bought and then proceeded to advise her on proper body washing protocols...."Want to try it out Grammie? I could help you wash your hair! We, we have to have bath before bed you know...."  I was splitting a gut!!!

Nick came home and the work began. He picked out all the large rocks by hand, filled in the tree stump holes with wood chips, covered them with dirt, and made a giant 'dune' out of the left over wood chips (Ruby had fun playing in it and was filthy dirty when she came in!)

His Mum Brenda and her hubby Rob came up Saturday afternoon, bringing with them a GF lasagna which was YUMMY and both kids had 2 helpings! I made a sweet potato pie for dessert. Nick raised and eye brow but I'd always wanted to try making one... and it turned out fabulously! It has a similar flavour and texture to pumpkin pie but is much lighter and less greasy? Sometimes pumpkin pie can be very heavy and greasy, I think it is just the nature of the sugar pumpkin squash. But the sweet potato pie was marvelous! I highly recommend trying it as an alternative to this coming Thanksgiving weekend's traditional pumpkin pie.

We're off to Country Maples in Chemainus to meet up with my sister's family and my folks for Thanksgiving feast. We're having a 'Bean Off' on the Saturday night, my Ma is making her famous beans, and Nick is making his 'Venison and Beans.' Winner gets bragging rites for a week! We'll be bringing our RV obviously and an older stove/oven from a dismantled camper, plus my sister's RV oven ~ we're hoping to make a Thanksgiving feast for 12! I'll be making brussle sprouts with bacon, and GF sweet potato pie and a GF pumpkin, caramel pecan pie. Yes, I will take pics and blog about it!


I'm hoping the festivities don't hinder my progress. After 3 years of pregnancy and child rearing I'm finally able to put on my skinny jeans!!! ...I can't do them up, but I can get them ON! Bike riding, towing 50 lbs of kids 4 times per week has made my hips and rear end shrink!!! YAY me! So I'm going to keep it up (as if I have a choice!)

I'll see about posting pictures! TTYL!

Up to date Pics!

Princess Peach on her 6th Birthday!

Cousin Evie, Auntie Sarah, Uncle Ken and Eli!

Ruby's stunning bowling outfit!

Being Daddy's cheerleader!

Grammie and her oldest grandbaby Julia!

Eli bowling with Mummy!

Some old guy pattin' Eli's head as he chased the bowling ball around the alley!

Under chairs...

Squeezin' through...

 

Playing with cousin Evie!

 

All our pretty toes that Grammie painted that weekend!

The fabulously inspirational garden at Pacific Shores!

Espaliered apple trees!

Kiwi's on an arbor!

A NEW and excellent GF product! Gluten free 'couscous!)

Symbols we're seeing more and more of!

 

The blush wine for the peach 'rose.'

 

40 lbs peaches!

 

Ruby's first day Preschool! She was upset the next day of class because her 'school' shirt wasn't clean!... Um, only bought it for the first day not for each class!

In came Elias quite upset, we both turned round to see that he'd been made into a human sticker book! He wasn't impressed!

More labelling I like!

 

 

 

Elias' First Birthday!

I made him chocolate cake and iced it with chocolate in my first attempt at 'basket weave' technique.

Ruby iced her own cupcake!

Elias didn't even take one bite; instead he wore it!

And then mushed it into my hand.

 

The cake I spent hours making, and he still never ate a bite.

Sweet little curls and blue eyes! Done he make yer heart melt?

My brother's 'vicious' Pit Bulls came for the visit.

I'm totally terrified!.... Aren't you?

 

The GF Pumpkin Pie I made for my own birthday!

Elias at the Toopy and Binoo Concert....

Ruby at the Toopy and Binoo concert.....

Despite the what the pictures are reflecting... both had a marvelous time at Toopy and Binoo!

Heard her pouring her own drink and went to investigate... she said she was using, 'Daddy's juice cup.'

Elias passed out with Daddy in the chair... he had the snufflies poor fellow.

Helping himself to a carrot the next morning...

 

Been a good summer! I just got back from using the trailer on a solo camping trip 10 minutes up the road. Nick survived 36 hours as a single dad and the house was still standing upon my return! ... Now gearing up for his absence as he goes on a hunting trip shortly! Better come back with some meat or I'll be skinning him.

Our BIG. FAT. FULL. Life!

Sorry for the short hiatus! Life is all hustle and bustle!

The month of August was tough! Nick was up island working for 3 out of the 5 weeks and the 2 weeks he was home he was working MAD overtime. It was tiring and lonely. Even the kids were showing signs of having enough.

My niece's 6th birthday was the last day of August. But with Nick gone the kids and I couldn't leave the dog home, so we did a day trip on the Wednesday down to Coombs and Parksville where my sister was staying at her time share. Nick came home the Thursday night, so I had my folks drive the hour north to come and get the kids and I for a couple of over night's at my sisters vacation spot.

We had fun, but Ruby was ATROCIOUS. And I mean SERIOUSLY so! SO misbehaved that she was putting everyone on edge. She woke up at 6 am two days in a row and started shrieking when anyone even looked at her. I'd had enough so I texted Nick to come and pick her up which he did Friday afternoon. We had words but at the end of the day the OT was wearing on everyone.

Ruby returned on Saturday with a better attitude and had fun with her cousins. That Sunday we did a bunch of yard work before the beginning of fall. The tomatoes are still ripening but there are buckets full. I've ripped out all that had gone to seed, the only things left are some carrots, onions and the tomatoes.

We've been discussing what type of cover crop we might want to put in the raised bed to ensure that nutrients doesn't leach out over the wet winter. We will also plant some garlic and onions shortly.

The italian plums on the tree are finally turning to a deep purple! And one of the raspberry plants has actually produced fruit! Super excited about this!

There was a wonderful garden at my sisters vacation spot which I took pictures of. I was SO inspired by the espaliered apple trees, the pergola kiwi vines and the latticed grape vines that it gave me a whole new perspective on our own garden! Looking at the house I can see a spot for 2 female kiwi vines, a spot for a nice long pergola with grapes and room for at least 5 espaliered fruit trees up against the house!

Nick and I canned 40 lbs of peaches and I was able to pry open one of the centres to get at the two seeds within, I've put them in a pot and we shall see what happens. I'm going to do the same with the prune plums, Nick has read that the prune plums will produce more with two trees in close proximity to one another. I'm hoping he is right!

Ruby has started preschool two mornings per week and gymnastics class one morning per week. The first day of preschool felt odd, I dropped her off, stayed only 20 minutes and then took Elias to the park across the street. It was eerie just he and I! I guess I'll have to get used to it! Gymnastics class was FUN! Elias is upstairs in the rec centre's child minding while I take Ruby to the parent involved class. ... We were back in the 'foam pit of death,' but we were all smiles at the end!

Elias turned 1! Both Nick and I are agast that the year is already come and gone! Didn't we just blink and he's walking? He can even say a few words now; Mummy, Daddy, dog, kitty, hi.....I'm teaching him the names of his body parts, he likes mouth and fingers.

He does NOT like cake! I made cupcakes on his actual birthday and iced them with chocolate icing ~ he just made a great big mess. Then on Saturday I spent hours, HOURS making his first birthday cake, with homemade fondant, kneading it by hand over and over. Only to have him totally NOT eat any of it! Oh well.

Grammie and Papa (my parents) came up for two nights to celebrate with us. Grammie brought Ruby a new 'Dora the Explorer' book and Ruby insisted Grammie read it to her in her new bed. .... Oh ya last week of August Nick picked up a queen sized bed from his bro that he no longer needed. So we've taken Ruby's old captain's bed out and put in the queen. She quite likes it!

Elias got some clothes from each of his Aunties, a tool chest from Grammie and Papa and a foam chair from Mum and Dad. Nana and Papa Rob brought up a stuffed Curious George and a giant Curious George book. I had to take the stuffy out of the crib because everytime he looks at it he laughs out loud!

Nick's mum Brenda and step dad Rob also brought up Nick's maternal Grandma Driedger's dining room suite. It is exquisite! Brenda generously purchased it out of her parents estate as a gift to us, they even have stored it for us for nearly 3 years while we waited to be moved here to the Valley and then tried to make the logistics of bringing it up work. But it is finally here in all it's beauty! Brenda even brought the original sales receipt! Bought in 1986 for $3000+ Grandma Annette had saved up using money she made babysitting the neighbourhood kids! It was the first and possibly only significant purchase she ever made with her own ends; a wonderful peace of familly history in our own dining room!

Nick and I had fun the other night cleaning up some of Grandma's crystal glasses and some of our own crystal we had received as wedding presents 6 years ago. Some of the pieces were still in their original boxes as we never had any place fitting for them! I added two champagne flutes given to use as a gift on our wedding night by Nick's dad and step mum. They are a very near match to the glasses of his maternal grandmother's! I also added the dark green (almost teal) pottery coffee pot and two cups/saucers from a set my mother gave me which she picked up 30+ years ago in England. Made by monks in a monestary I quite like them and have always wanted to put them up; the box they were in has moved with us 3 times from Victoria to Port McNeill and now to the Valley but hasn't even been opened in 7+ years!

We included a beautiful silver mirrored serving tray from Nick's paternal grandmother and the cake toppers from my paternal grandparents wedding in 1947 along with our own cake topper. The hutch lights up and when the house is dark with just the fire place on and the hutch lit up I feel like I am Queen of my very own fancy castle!

My own birthday was yesterday. I got the kids up, fed, dressed and in the bike trailer for 8:20am to take Ruby to preschool. Once back home Elias had trouble finding what to do with himself. I put dinner in the slow cooker and made a pumpkin pie ~ I loath cake but could eat a whole pie to myself! Both turned out great! Took the dog and Elias back up to the preschool on my bike. I was a bit nervous about taking the dog but she was fantastic and enjoyed the exercise! Riding 3+ times per week, nearly twice a day I'd better be freakin' SKINNY by Christmas! In truth I can already tell that my body shape has changed because my pants feel quite loose. I am excited by this!

Last night we took the kids to the theatre to watch the stage production of 'Toopy and Binoo' a Canadian kids show. Both the kids were simply mesmerized! It truly was the BEST birthday present I could have ever received! Their faces were beaming, smiling in awe of the show. I couldn't help but look over at Nick, I caught his eye and saw the twinkle in my own eye reflected in his.

I am blessed. I am living my dream. xoxox

Life is BIG. FAT. and FULL!

I'll post pictures later tonight!