I have been scooping ice cream for 14 summers. I've tasted A LOT of ice cream. Here are my favorites so far this year in a count down...
10. Pralines & Cream ~ Candied pecans in vanilla ice cream with swirls of caramel syrup
9. Naniamo Brownie ~ Custard ice cream with fudge swirls and mini brownie fudge bites
with toasted coconut.
8. Grape Float ~ Vanilla & Grape ice cream swirled together
7. Blueberry Frozen Yogurt ~ light & refreshing with real blueberries
6. Cherry Custard ~ Mariachino cherries in custard ice cream
5. Double Chocolate Caramel ~ White Chocolate & Chocolate ice cream with caramel ribbons
4. Deja Moo ~ Chocolate Ice cream with chocolate cookie crumbs & marshmallow swirl
3. Peppermint Candy ~ Pink peppermint ice cream with crushed pink & green mints
2. Black Licorice ~ Black licorice ice cream (looks terrible, tastes wonderful!)
and my number 1 pick for this year's best ice cream flavor is....
Coconut Cashew Fudge ~ Vanilla ice cream with fudge swirls and toasted coconuts &
cashews throughout.
These are all Foothills Creamery flavors.
Even though my summer is starting out a bit stressful, there is still a silver lining. Ice cream really does help make a girl feel better.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Faith Like a Child
I was fretting. We were stranded with a broken down vehicle. We thought the solution was to just buy another used car and send our broken one to the local auction. We were on the way to buy what we hoped would be a sweet deal on a Honda Civic. Suddenly the cell rang - the sweet deal was someone else's. That was the last straw for me. My husband and I were already dealing with various complications regarding our first ice cream tour of the season, this let down with the Civic just took the wind right out of me and I was fretting.
Just then I looked back at my children in the back seat of the borrowed car we were driving. They weren't thrilled with riding all over town on a hot day with the windows rolled down, and having to wait in the car while Mike or I hopped out to do some kind of errand. The kids made no bones about it; they voiced their complaints. Yet, after being told that they just had to be patient and let Mommy & Daddy get their work done, they hunkered down and began making the best of it. Dade closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep, allowing us to carry him along in relative peace and comfort. Matia was unhappy with the wind blowing in her face, so she did what she could about it; she picked up her hat and played peek a boo with me. she kept her eyes on me and laughed at her present predicament.
The way my children handled an uncomfortable car ride taught me a lot about how I need to handle difficulties in my life.
Just then I looked back at my children in the back seat of the borrowed car we were driving. They weren't thrilled with riding all over town on a hot day with the windows rolled down, and having to wait in the car while Mike or I hopped out to do some kind of errand. The kids made no bones about it; they voiced their complaints. Yet, after being told that they just had to be patient and let Mommy & Daddy get their work done, they hunkered down and began making the best of it. Dade closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep, allowing us to carry him along in relative peace and comfort. Matia was unhappy with the wind blowing in her face, so she did what she could about it; she picked up her hat and played peek a boo with me. she kept her eyes on me and laughed at her present predicament.
The way my children handled an uncomfortable car ride taught me a lot about how I need to handle difficulties in my life.
- It's ok to complain a little.
- Eventually you have to stop complaining and make the best of a bad situation.
- Relax! Rest when you can.
- Do what you can to improve things.
- Keep your sense of humor.
- Find assurance and reassurance by keeping your eyes and heart fixed on God.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
An Update
It was a long drive, but we made it to our first fair destination. We had a few complications but God has seen us through as always. Our first difficulty was that while Mike took me out for a test drive of our Navigator pulling our travel trailer a part that fell off the Navigator causing our brakes to be broken. This was a problem because in order to take the Navigator we had to have it pass out of province inspection, which we were going to do on Monday. The temporary permit expires on Wednesday, we had to be in GP by Tuesday, sooooooo that little piece that fell off caused us to have to completely change plans. Mike spent all day Monday extending the hitch on our new travel trailer so he could pull it behind our Freightliner. This is a very big job! He finally completed it at 1am Tuesday morning. Yes we did start off right then and there. We woke up the kids, stuck them in the car and I drove the Golf and Mike drove our rig. The kids thought it was great and they were bright eyed and bushy tailed for the whole 3 hours that we drove. Ok, well actually Dade thought it was great he kept talking about Mac the big truck from Cars, and how we had to hurry and catch up to Daddy the way Lightning McQueen had to catch up to Mac in the movie. Matia was ok with everything until about 20 mins before we stopped. Thankfully they were both ready to go back to sleep when we stopped for a rest at 4am ish.
Upon waking up Mike was worried that the Freightliner might have an oil leak or something worse. He changed the oil and discovered that the dip stick had just been placed wrong and voila the problem was fixed. We headed off around 8:30am Tuesday morning.
Everything was going fine, we were only a little late and we had notified the people expecting us that we'd be a bit late and that was no problem. Just outside GP there is a huge valley, on the way up the big hill I heard a crunch and then the Golf lost power! I pulled over and thankfully Mike saw me do that, so he stopped at the top of a hill. Thankfully also a transportation officer pulled over right behind me, and offered to drive up to the top and get Mike and his tools for me. When Mike arrived he determined that the crank was broken, and there was nothing to do but take our stuff out of the car and get a rental car. Luckily I had put the wagon in the back of the car so be plopped both kids in the wagon and started hoofing it up the valley (this was a huge hill by the way on a very hot day). Again, Thankfully, a kind passerbyer stopped with his truck and let us all pile in! Whew! He was probably wondering about me because I was crying quite hard by this time, and so was Dade. Dade was terrified of getting into a stranger's vehicle. I think he was more concerned about his wagon sitting in the back of the truck than anything else, but me crying probably didn't help his frame of mind. I wish I didn't cry so easily and could pull it together a bit faster, but oh well. That's just me in panic mode full speed ahead.
After we got to the top of the hill, and to our wonderful travel trailer we weren't sure what to do. We both had to get to town so that we could rent a car and get to the fair grounds. We called the fair manager and he said they would wait for us, they are so nice. Somehow we all got to town, ask me in person and I'll tell you how, rented a car, got set up at the fair grounds and went for supper with Mike's cousin Darrel and Christine (who live in GP). Darrel and Christine graciously offered us the use of their car, so we were able to return the rental car today. Darrel also helped Mike get our car towed and let us park it at his house for the time being. God is good, we know exactly where all these blessings are coming from and I pray that the people he is using to bless us will also be blessed, since there is no way to repay their kindness.
Today we are setting up our concession, we should have 131 pails of ice cream arriving in an hour or so, just in time for the thunder storm that has rolled in. Mike is looking for a new used car for us to buy and this may be the last stop for our poor old Golf....unless... Mike is also looking for a new engine and is researching how much it would cost to put a new motor in. If it is less than a new used vehicle our Golf might just rise from the ashes and I will call it a Phoenix from then on.
In the mean time we have a show to run. Our help that we thought we had secured wasn't able to help us after all, but he is good to his word and found us some other willing hands. Christine has also offered to help us so we are set for staff at this fair.
Things have not been easy. Mike is under a fair amount of stress. Pray for calmness for him and good decision making. I've tried to stay as calm and positive as possible (except for my crying jag on the way up the valley), but I tend to worry uncontrollably. I'm learning the discipline of prayer through all this. It seems that I've been doing nothing but praying since Mike started working on the hitch on Monday. Many of the things I prayed about did not work out the way I prayed they would. At first this makes me kind of cross with God, I mean I asked but we didn't receive, and I looked, but I didn't find, at least not from my perspective. But when I stopped to think about my angry feelings I realized that God isn't a genie popping out to fix things when I ask, nor does he do things the way I want every time. I need to learn to be faithful and trust him with every little detail, and praise him in spite of and because of everything. Maybe I'm getting a glimpse at what it means to Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS. Anyway, you can pray that I will continue to set my worries down at God's feet instead of clinging to the anxiety and fear.
The kids are absolutely awesome! The only difficulty that I have noticed is that Matia is having trouble laying down to sleep. We did not bring her playpen, so she is having to get used to sleeping in strange quarters (on a mat beside our bed). She has a freer range, so she is less willing and I am less able to keep her confined to her quarters until she has relaxed enough to fall asleep. She will not be rocked to sleep, so this means she's had a few crying jags of her own. She is so my child! Pray that she will quickly get used to sleeping in the camper.
Dade is loving the road life, he is so excited to be back at the fair. I'm not sure if we will make any money this year, since he'll want us to buy him rides every day! Mike says we shouldn't cave to his demands, but I say if you're going to bring your kids to the fair all summer it would be cruel not to let them play on the rides. Besides, I can usually pay for rides with ice cream coupons. Hopefully we'll reach a compromise with Dade and be able to limit his ride frenzy.
While you're praying pray for a reliable new to us vehicle that is fairly cheap. Thanks for lifting us up to the Lord, we are noticing his graciousness and faithfulness and his miracles.
Here's to an eventful summer!
Upon waking up Mike was worried that the Freightliner might have an oil leak or something worse. He changed the oil and discovered that the dip stick had just been placed wrong and voila the problem was fixed. We headed off around 8:30am Tuesday morning.
Everything was going fine, we were only a little late and we had notified the people expecting us that we'd be a bit late and that was no problem. Just outside GP there is a huge valley, on the way up the big hill I heard a crunch and then the Golf lost power! I pulled over and thankfully Mike saw me do that, so he stopped at the top of a hill. Thankfully also a transportation officer pulled over right behind me, and offered to drive up to the top and get Mike and his tools for me. When Mike arrived he determined that the crank was broken, and there was nothing to do but take our stuff out of the car and get a rental car. Luckily I had put the wagon in the back of the car so be plopped both kids in the wagon and started hoofing it up the valley (this was a huge hill by the way on a very hot day). Again, Thankfully, a kind passerbyer stopped with his truck and let us all pile in! Whew! He was probably wondering about me because I was crying quite hard by this time, and so was Dade. Dade was terrified of getting into a stranger's vehicle. I think he was more concerned about his wagon sitting in the back of the truck than anything else, but me crying probably didn't help his frame of mind. I wish I didn't cry so easily and could pull it together a bit faster, but oh well. That's just me in panic mode full speed ahead.
After we got to the top of the hill, and to our wonderful travel trailer we weren't sure what to do. We both had to get to town so that we could rent a car and get to the fair grounds. We called the fair manager and he said they would wait for us, they are so nice. Somehow we all got to town, ask me in person and I'll tell you how, rented a car, got set up at the fair grounds and went for supper with Mike's cousin Darrel and Christine (who live in GP). Darrel and Christine graciously offered us the use of their car, so we were able to return the rental car today. Darrel also helped Mike get our car towed and let us park it at his house for the time being. God is good, we know exactly where all these blessings are coming from and I pray that the people he is using to bless us will also be blessed, since there is no way to repay their kindness.
Today we are setting up our concession, we should have 131 pails of ice cream arriving in an hour or so, just in time for the thunder storm that has rolled in. Mike is looking for a new used car for us to buy and this may be the last stop for our poor old Golf....unless... Mike is also looking for a new engine and is researching how much it would cost to put a new motor in. If it is less than a new used vehicle our Golf might just rise from the ashes and I will call it a Phoenix from then on.
In the mean time we have a show to run. Our help that we thought we had secured wasn't able to help us after all, but he is good to his word and found us some other willing hands. Christine has also offered to help us so we are set for staff at this fair.
Things have not been easy. Mike is under a fair amount of stress. Pray for calmness for him and good decision making. I've tried to stay as calm and positive as possible (except for my crying jag on the way up the valley), but I tend to worry uncontrollably. I'm learning the discipline of prayer through all this. It seems that I've been doing nothing but praying since Mike started working on the hitch on Monday. Many of the things I prayed about did not work out the way I prayed they would. At first this makes me kind of cross with God, I mean I asked but we didn't receive, and I looked, but I didn't find, at least not from my perspective. But when I stopped to think about my angry feelings I realized that God isn't a genie popping out to fix things when I ask, nor does he do things the way I want every time. I need to learn to be faithful and trust him with every little detail, and praise him in spite of and because of everything. Maybe I'm getting a glimpse at what it means to Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS. Anyway, you can pray that I will continue to set my worries down at God's feet instead of clinging to the anxiety and fear.
The kids are absolutely awesome! The only difficulty that I have noticed is that Matia is having trouble laying down to sleep. We did not bring her playpen, so she is having to get used to sleeping in strange quarters (on a mat beside our bed). She has a freer range, so she is less willing and I am less able to keep her confined to her quarters until she has relaxed enough to fall asleep. She will not be rocked to sleep, so this means she's had a few crying jags of her own. She is so my child! Pray that she will quickly get used to sleeping in the camper.
Dade is loving the road life, he is so excited to be back at the fair. I'm not sure if we will make any money this year, since he'll want us to buy him rides every day! Mike says we shouldn't cave to his demands, but I say if you're going to bring your kids to the fair all summer it would be cruel not to let them play on the rides. Besides, I can usually pay for rides with ice cream coupons. Hopefully we'll reach a compromise with Dade and be able to limit his ride frenzy.
While you're praying pray for a reliable new to us vehicle that is fairly cheap. Thanks for lifting us up to the Lord, we are noticing his graciousness and faithfulness and his miracles.
Here's to an eventful summer!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Here We Go....
Well, we are on our way as of tomorrow evening. We start our ice cream tour up north at the GP Stompede. Here are a few things for our prayer warriors out there. When you think of us please say a prayer for:
- Safety ~ we'll be driving a lot this summer. This trip I will be towing the 34' travel trailer, something I've never done before and I'm a bit nervous about it. Also our set up and take down can be precarious at times, so pray that it goes smoothly each time and that our concession doesn't get stuck or fall on anyone/thing.
- Health ~ We have been blessed with good health each summer. We have only gotten the flu once (unfortunately it was both of us at the same time) and the kids have also enjoyed good health each summer. We pray for good health, and strong backs & ice cream arms.
- Good communication ~ Mike and I will be together 24/7 working and taking care of the kids in a tag team fashion. It is a blessing to spend so much time with each other, yet tension can mount also. Pray for us to communicate with kindness, and that we would not have misunderstandings. Pray for my hearing, especially when we have to back up the truck or trailer! Hee hee that is usually a stressful time. I am also praying for stolen moments to slow down and just enjoy each other's company. Pray for our marriage to be strengthened this summer.
- Good Professional Relations ~ We travel with West Coast Amusements and have always felt accepted and treated with consideration. Pray that this continues and we would be able to share God's love with our "carny" friends. Also pray for reliable and competent staff at each spot. I am still looking for help in Strathmore (one of our busiest shows) and I'm praying that we will have the right help when we need it at each event.
- Dependable equipment & vehicles ~ No breakdowns would be great! We have never used this travel trailer before, I am hoping it is a blessing to us and that Mike would not have to be constantly fixing it and fussing with it. Also, our vehicles are our bread and butter, especially the Freightliner which might be a bit iffy since Mike is concerned that there was coolant in the oil which can indicate a big problem. He spent much of this spring rebuilding the engine and doing many other mechanical fixes on our truck, I'm praying it will do it's job now without complaining. Also important are our freezers, though they can be replaced if a freezer conks out (we had to replace one last year) it is quite an ordeal when it happens, so I'm praying our freezers will all make it one more summer! We need everything from our cell phones and air conditioning to our freezers and vehicles to just keep on keeping on this summer. Pray also that we will be able to roll with the punches if difficulties do arise.
- Our Children ~ Dade & Matia will be on the road with us most of the time. My parents are planning to take them on some of the weekends, but they will have to travel a lot! Praise the Lord that they are good little travelers already, and pray for endurance and patience for them. Pray that Mike and I can find ways to keep their lives "normal" as much as possible and also find ways to make our summer fun as a family. Dade and Matia already really like playing in our new travel trailer, so hopefully the novelty won't wear off.
- Kind Friends & Loyal Family ~ Our friends and family have always been a tremendous support to us as we do our ice cream tour. We simply could NOT do it with out them. Pray that they will be blessed through their support of our business and in us as friends.
- Our Move ~ we also have to be out of our place with our stuff packed away in storage by the end of June. Normally this would not be difficult, but we will also be traveling and doing fairs while I would like to be packing. I do have the house mostly packed and ready to move, but Mike's shop is a whole new ball of wax! Scary! Somehow I know it will all come together, I just wish I knew how and when, but I guess that is what building faith and trusting God is all about.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
10 Glad Minutes
I'm glad that....
- I have modern conveniences (running water, electricity, heat, internet)
- I am healthy and able to do many things at once
- I have hope in Christ, and his salvation to grant me assurance and reassurance when things get difficult.
- I have a lovely family and many wonderful friends.
- I live in a free country where my rights and freedoms are protected to such an extent that I often take them for granted.
- I can read and enjoy my mind's imagination.
- I know my Great Grandma quite well.
- I have a comfy bed and blankets
- I get to enjoy many luxuries in life ( multiple bathrooms, hot water whenever I want it, a fridge, stove, microwave, warm clothes, cool clothes, soap, Tylenol, fresh food, chocolate whenever I desire, washer & dryer, comfortable funiature, telephones, radio, tv. xbox, video camera, camera, make up, blow dryer, flushing toilets, disposable diapers...)
- I know a loving, forgiving, almighty, patient, powerful, self sacrificing God who has made a way to bring me to himself.
- I know the truth and can share it with my children, my loved ones and everyone around me.
Notes from The Velvet Elvis
I found some notes from a book club book that I read called The Velvet Elvis. Here's some of what spoke to me.
- "You rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you." p 27
- The bible is about today. p.60
- All truth is mine. I can claim it. All beauty is mine. All goodness is mine. All honor is mine. I don't work for it - it belongs to me because it belongs to God and I belong to God, I inherit his truth, beauty, goodness and honor. It is bestowed unto me, I do not take it upon myself. p 79
- Truth never contradicts God "God is truth and all truth is God's truth, then Jesus takes us into the truth, not away from it"p. 82.
- "Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective" p 84.
- Missionary - teaching people to see things that have always been there; they just didn't realize it. You see God where others don't, and then you point him out. p.88
- My job is the relentless pursuit of who God made me to be! p. 114 anything else is sin and I need to repent of it. It is a sin for me to be a people pleaser, to be apathetic, to be a control freak, to just keep busy and productive, to do or be anything outside of what God is asking me to do or be. Hmmmmm.
- "Few people actually live from their heart. Very few live connected with their soul. Those who do...make a difference!" p 120
- We don't realize what God has already made us capable of! p 134
- "The issue then isn't my beating myself up over all the things I am not doing, or the things I am doing poorly; the issue is my learning who this person is who God keeps insisting I already AM!" p 144.
- "The point isn't my failure; it is God's success in remaking me into the person he originally intended me to be." p. 144
- "There is nothing we can do, and there is nothing we ever could have done, to earn God's favor. We already have it!!!" p. 144 I cannot earn what I have always had. What I can do is trust that what God keeps insisting is true about us actually is.
- "The difference is how we choose to live, which story we choose to live in, which version of reality we trust...Ours or God's." p.146
mmmm fluffy
I did it! I have been practicing and practicing and finally I have done it!
I managed to make fluffy pancakes.
I have been celebrating Saturdays with the kids by making pancakes for the last 5 months. It has been a fun time of family bonding. While flipping I often call my grandma to ask her to repeat exactly what she does to make perfect pancakes every time. Her advice has been: follow the recipe, use low heat, don't flip too soon and NEVER double flip and NEVER press down on the pancake with the flipper. Maybe those instructions seem obvious to the average cook, but they were amazing words of wisdom to me. In the past my pancakes have been like little leather splats, today was different though! Today they were melt in my mouth, fluffy, airy, light morsels of yumminess! I didn't even look up the recipe this time, I just trusted that I have practiced enough and I just did it today.
The challenge will be to see if I can repeat this success next Saturday when I will be using the gas stove in our camper.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Pack Rat
Things I'm finding difficult to know what to do with as I am packing up to move:
- Old cassette tapes/CDs
- Three 11.5 L pails of mini doughnut mix!!!
- Old broken down mini doughnut machine that I don't think Mike will part with.
- 25 year old table and chairs (not antiques)
Interestingly enough, as I type these niggling objects I'm finding the solution is file 13 for each and every one of them. How freeing. The trick will be to get DH to agree.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Name Collection
The other day I was reading Kicky Boots blog (always fun) and she had asked for name ideas for her newest addition to her family (coming soon). Though I'm not expecting I like the idea of collecting name ideas in case some day I have the opportunity to use one. So I'd like to start a name collection. If anyone lurking out there wants to help me out with my collection be sure to comment to this post. I'll take girls names and boys names. Now I'm off to Kicky Boots to steal some of the names that were offered up to her.
Here's my collection:
Saraphina
Emerson
Daylen
Dallen
Lane
Gary
Thomas
Deanna
Marin
Amera
Opal
Stella
Jenora
Linley
Irelyn
Iyla
Saraphina
Emerson
Daylen
Dallen
Lane
Gary
Thomas
Deanna
Marin
Amera
Opal
Stella
Jenora
Linley
Irelyn
Iyla
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Funday Sunday
It is Funday.
Today we got to visit Mike's family.
We got to witness and participate as our neice was dedicated. We got to spend the afternoon visiting with our family and friends. Our children played their hearts our with their cousins, and my husband lost himself in the virtual vibes of Rock Band with his sister and brother-in-law while his mom, dad and I were thoroughly entertained.
Very Fun.
Sigh. It might be a long time before I feel this relaxed again.
This Funday was the last fun day I had marked on our calendar until September.
I know there will be fun moments in every day. I have the power to make that so. Yet the next 14 weeks are very full of packing, moving, cleaning, driving, scooping ice cream, more driving, and trying to keep the world around my children somewhat normal and...FUN.
My anxiety level is high and my energy level is low. If I could time warp, I definately would.
Oh well, a couple verses pop into my mind as I share my worries...
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Psalm 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands
1 Peter 4:11 ... If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Though it may not be fun, this is my time to do what I can, with what I have, where I am, with an attitude that is pleasing to God. Though my mind balks at that statement and my body whines that it will be too much work, my heart is encouraged by the promises of God and my soul knows that my reward will be great if I remain faithful.
I feel like I am going into battle, and this "Funday" is my send off.
As I watched my family dedicate my niece, I have decided to dedicate myself and this summer to God. I will fight to remain faithful, so that I can win the battle and enjoy the prize of pleasing my Lord.
Today we got to visit Mike's family.
We got to witness and participate as our neice was dedicated. We got to spend the afternoon visiting with our family and friends. Our children played their hearts our with their cousins, and my husband lost himself in the virtual vibes of Rock Band with his sister and brother-in-law while his mom, dad and I were thoroughly entertained.
Very Fun.
Sigh. It might be a long time before I feel this relaxed again.
This Funday was the last fun day I had marked on our calendar until September.
I know there will be fun moments in every day. I have the power to make that so. Yet the next 14 weeks are very full of packing, moving, cleaning, driving, scooping ice cream, more driving, and trying to keep the world around my children somewhat normal and...FUN.
My anxiety level is high and my energy level is low. If I could time warp, I definately would.
Oh well, a couple verses pop into my mind as I share my worries...
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Psalm 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands
1 Peter 4:11 ... If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Though it may not be fun, this is my time to do what I can, with what I have, where I am, with an attitude that is pleasing to God. Though my mind balks at that statement and my body whines that it will be too much work, my heart is encouraged by the promises of God and my soul knows that my reward will be great if I remain faithful.
I feel like I am going into battle, and this "Funday" is my send off.
As I watched my family dedicate my niece, I have decided to dedicate myself and this summer to God. I will fight to remain faithful, so that I can win the battle and enjoy the prize of pleasing my Lord.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Screaming luniatic!
I yelled at my dog today.
I yelled so loud my throat hurts now.
I was so mad that I still don't feel bad, though I know I should.
My dog, who has now become an outside dog, was inside because I felt sorry for him with all the wet snow falling. I don't know why I felt sorry for him, he's an American ESKIMO for heaven's sake! While inside and curled up comfortably on my couch (which I'm not thrilled about in the first place) he was happily munching on my son's baby blanket!!!!! The one my sister made, the one that is soft and well used, the one that matches my daughter's baby blanket, the one that I would use if it was big enough because it is that soft and comfortable. If this was a first offense I might be able to blow it off as a live and learn thing, however my dog chews fabric all the time! I am so tired and ashamed of this problem. Somewhere in our history of dog ownership, I should have trained my dog better, rather than him training me to keep things up most of the time. I should be more vigilant about things that are important to me. How can I accept nice gifts from people, knowing how careless and destructive my household is. What made me so upset today was that it wasn't just the blanket that was ruined, but somehow in my mind I feel that I dishonored my sister. I keep memories and people carefully in my mind. I know who gave us which set of tea towels at our wedding or which onsie came from which lady at each child's baby shower. The items I receive as gifts represent the people who gave them to me, so that is why I feel angry and ashamed by my dog chewing the blanket my sister made for my son. If Sebastian had bit my sister the way he bit that blanket I would have had him put down...hmmmmm. Then I feel guilty because ultimately I'm responsible for my pet, so really it was like I bit her! Well all I can say is "Sorry Amber! I didn't mean to bite you! Please forgive me and don't have me put down!". To my dog I say "you are banished! Outside you go, never to return to the cozy couch of soft synthetics!" and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
I yelled so loud my throat hurts now.
I was so mad that I still don't feel bad, though I know I should.
My dog, who has now become an outside dog, was inside because I felt sorry for him with all the wet snow falling. I don't know why I felt sorry for him, he's an American ESKIMO for heaven's sake! While inside and curled up comfortably on my couch (which I'm not thrilled about in the first place) he was happily munching on my son's baby blanket!!!!! The one my sister made, the one that is soft and well used, the one that matches my daughter's baby blanket, the one that I would use if it was big enough because it is that soft and comfortable. If this was a first offense I might be able to blow it off as a live and learn thing, however my dog chews fabric all the time! I am so tired and ashamed of this problem. Somewhere in our history of dog ownership, I should have trained my dog better, rather than him training me to keep things up most of the time. I should be more vigilant about things that are important to me. How can I accept nice gifts from people, knowing how careless and destructive my household is. What made me so upset today was that it wasn't just the blanket that was ruined, but somehow in my mind I feel that I dishonored my sister. I keep memories and people carefully in my mind. I know who gave us which set of tea towels at our wedding or which onsie came from which lady at each child's baby shower. The items I receive as gifts represent the people who gave them to me, so that is why I feel angry and ashamed by my dog chewing the blanket my sister made for my son. If Sebastian had bit my sister the way he bit that blanket I would have had him put down...hmmmmm. Then I feel guilty because ultimately I'm responsible for my pet, so really it was like I bit her! Well all I can say is "Sorry Amber! I didn't mean to bite you! Please forgive me and don't have me put down!". To my dog I say "you are banished! Outside you go, never to return to the cozy couch of soft synthetics!" and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Come What?! May?!
This was our deck yesterday...
This was our deck this morning....
And this afternoon!
This was our deck this morning....
And this afternoon!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Moving
Well, we're moving. Packing is in full swing. I'm sad to see all our stuff go into boxes. I'm a bit confounded as to why putting stuff in boxes seems to make a bigger mess. Shouldn't the mess decrease as there is less stuff available? Oh well.
I'm very excited and proud of myself for using a system to pack this time.
I have taken advice from my mom, and got out a recipe organizer, a jiffy marker and a pen. As I pack each box I give the box a number and a room. I write the number and room on the outside of the box. On a recipe card I also write the box number and room, then I list everything that is in the box. I try to write specifically what is in the box so that if my stuff has to stay in storage for a while I will still be able to find things that I need or want if necessary.
Once I'm done packing I will separate the cards into room categories, so that if I think of an item (ie. fondue pot) that I want, all I have to do is look up the kitchen category and find the card that has the fondue pot on it. It will tell me which box to look in.
I've used this system before, and it was really helpful.
Another thing I am happy about is that my wonderful DH bought me a whole swack of plastic tubs. I don't have to worry about stuff getting wet in storage, or mice getting into things. This pleases me to no end.
Well that would be the end to my positive spin on packing.
I guess I better get back to it.
I'm very excited and proud of myself for using a system to pack this time.
I have taken advice from my mom, and got out a recipe organizer, a jiffy marker and a pen. As I pack each box I give the box a number and a room. I write the number and room on the outside of the box. On a recipe card I also write the box number and room, then I list everything that is in the box. I try to write specifically what is in the box so that if my stuff has to stay in storage for a while I will still be able to find things that I need or want if necessary.
Once I'm done packing I will separate the cards into room categories, so that if I think of an item (ie. fondue pot) that I want, all I have to do is look up the kitchen category and find the card that has the fondue pot on it. It will tell me which box to look in.
I've used this system before, and it was really helpful.
Another thing I am happy about is that my wonderful DH bought me a whole swack of plastic tubs. I don't have to worry about stuff getting wet in storage, or mice getting into things. This pleases me to no end.
Well that would be the end to my positive spin on packing.
I guess I better get back to it.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
How do I love thee, let me count the ways...
- goose egg
- bright pink legs from coloring with markers
- cups of coffee
- friends on a walk
- pieces that my great grandmother's antique plate broke into
- clothing changes today
- ride'em toy obstacle course on the deck
- No!s
- redirections
- minutes of "huggeling" before bed.
It was an interesting day. I love my kids!
Friday, May 2, 2008
no comment!
Well, I'm kind of embarrassed by my silly self.
For one, I emailed all my friends and family and told them to come by my blog because I was sad that I had no comments! I attribute it to being near Jr. High students all week, and their self absorbed, sniveling is catchy!
For another, I forgot to attach my blog link to the email!
Doh!
Why am I so needy that I have requested that everyone I love and respect come and submit their 2 cents about my random thoughts?
A. I'm prideful. I enjoy the ego stroke of a kind comment.
B. I'm insecure. I want my thoughts to be validated by someone else.
C. I'm curious. Who reads my blog anyway?
D. I'm a know it all. I want to know who else has blogs too, so I can go explore their thoughts
and make my comments on their lives, issues and ideas.
Thank you everyone who has stopped by to give me an ego boost, encouragement, satisfy my curiosity and allow me into their cyber lives.
For one, I emailed all my friends and family and told them to come by my blog because I was sad that I had no comments! I attribute it to being near Jr. High students all week, and their self absorbed, sniveling is catchy!
For another, I forgot to attach my blog link to the email!
Doh!
Why am I so needy that I have requested that everyone I love and respect come and submit their 2 cents about my random thoughts?
A. I'm prideful. I enjoy the ego stroke of a kind comment.
B. I'm insecure. I want my thoughts to be validated by someone else.
C. I'm curious. Who reads my blog anyway?
D. I'm a know it all. I want to know who else has blogs too, so I can go explore their thoughts
and make my comments on their lives, issues and ideas.
Thank you everyone who has stopped by to give me an ego boost, encouragement, satisfy my curiosity and allow me into their cyber lives.
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