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oompa loompas hittin' the hill

Madge

I spanked Sarah b/c she wasn’t listening.

Me:

Oh, you shouldn’t spank, it really doesn’t do any good.

Madge:

Mommy, it’s just a stuffed doll.

Me:

Well, you still shouldn’t spank her.

Pause…..

Madge:

Mommy, when I was really young I spanked Sarah b/c I was young and I didn’t know what I was doing. 

All this wisdom from a four year old.  

Oh Deer...


So Ken and Marion have built a trough near their house and they feed "the girls" twice a day. Sunday morning when we were there, 9 deer came running down the hill when Ken whistled for them. Apparently if they don't get out early enough in the morning the deer will wander around the house, peeking in the windows as if to say "hey, you guys up yet? How 'bout a little breakfast around here".

Lisa took these pictures and you might think she has a crazy telephoto lens. Nope. That's how close they were. There is one little baby that will come really close to Ken. Maddie and Mackenzie had a perfect little perch on the windowsill to watch the deer. They could also see the 9 (NINE) cats out the bedroom window.

It's a lost episode of Lorne Green's Wilderness around there I tell you.

Now brace yourself. What you are about to see is strange, unusual, and well a bit weird. One of the NINE cats likes to hop up onto the trough for a good ol' lick. Is it salty? What? I don't know. But sure as shit, this cat hops up there and one of the deer licks her little heart out. At one point the cat is lying right down in there with a leg draped over the side. It's like a Cat Spa or something.

more shots from
elle markosky photography

elle markosky photography....JUNIOR

Maddie took these pictures of her doll house. Oh, and there's a very flattering one of me and Jason.

In case you think otherwise - Maddie set this scene up entirely on her own. Notice the babies on the shelf in the "office". Also, check out Tinkerbell's slumber pose.
Q: What's all the blue stuff?
A: Painters tape in little teeny tiny rolls so that all teeny tiny items can be kept in their place.

My Mom, nursing Graduation

Grandma Hurst, 1939

Uncle George is in the front row, look for the "GG" I wrote on the left side of the picture. If you enlarge this you'll see a smile that I think indicates someone with a fun personality and a lot of character. That's who my Grandma Hurst was and that's how I always think of Uncle George.

In recognition of Uncle George's death, during WWII

My Grandma Butcher and Auntie Evelyn, 1959

My Dad.

A card my Grandpa sent to my Grandma during the war.
That's a lot of x's, Grandpa.

Girls Night Out:
a grown up sleepover!


Allison and I met up at Keo's for...well do you have to ask? Lettuce wraps and Pad Thai (deee-licous). Then we headed over to the spa for a manicure (my first in 11 years - WHAT? not going to let that happen again). Then some shopping, a bit more shopping, and oh some shopping. We stopped for a "break" at O'Sheas for some Sodium Enriched Poutine (OH the swollen face was worth every minute). So, sitting at the next table it this man. I know this guy. Where the heck do I know him from? Is he a parent from work? WAIT. NO. HE's A CELEBRITY! It was Davis from Corner Gas! I decided to be cool and not run over and ask for an autograph and photo. That's me, always cool....

Here's Al, modelling her Spa Slippers and swanky socks.

Here's me in my (well, Allison's) bar star shirt. Oh yeah. Matched my sneakers beeeutifully...


oh - did I mention? We stayed in the Sheraton! Thanks for a fantastic and much needed night out, Allison.


in case you don't know who the heck Davis is (and if that's the case: what rock have you been living under??)

Knitting Kninja:  Emily

So...have you ever heard of "Yarn Bombing"?  My friend (Em Dawg above) and I were talking about it.  I felt bombed her with a coffee cozie (much much lamer cousin to the true yarn bomb approach).  Anyhoo, the picture above his her valentine for her husband, Kurt.  She yarn bombed a tree in a park near their house.  

If you don't believe me....here's what Wikipedia has to say.  

And remember, if you read it on The Google, it must be true.

Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, graffiti knitting, guerrilla knitting, or yarnstorming is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk. While yarn installations – called yarn bombs or yarnstorms – may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.^[1]

New York City

A reenactment of Em Dawg's yarn bomb....

Emily's next project...

now, I've successfully yarn bombed my blog.  Awesome.

Grandma Pollock, I double dog dare you to yarn bomb something in Grandpa's boat....

When I was growing up my dad always gave me a valentine.  Sometimes it was a rose in a little rose bowl (remember those?).  Other times it was a box of chocolates with a large plastic flower on the heart shaped box (which I thought was the most beautiful thing).

One year the florist mixed things up and sent me a dozen roses from my dad....and sent one rose to my mom.  Oops.

I also remember going to the Chinese restaurant in Killarney with my Dad. It was called Winkie's.  Oh, good ol' Winkie's and their chicken balls.  That was where my love of Small Town Chinese food was born.   I'm not sure if it was Valentine's or not, but I can remember it was just me and my dad.  And the owner (Mr. Winkie?) came by and talked to my dad.  I was sure my dad was some kind of celebrity if the owner of the restaurant talked to us.  I mean, really.

This year my dad gave me flowers.  Red and white daisies and carnations.  Thank you Dad.  Happy Valentine's Day.  

Nope. We're not going away for the weekend. Just heading into the city to run some errands. HOWEVER; Maddie and Sarah are packed and ready to go to a Wedding. The wedding is very far away and they will be taking a bus.

Treena, please note the suitcase. It is packed full of baby essentials. And Sarah, under her baby cover is wearing snow pants, a coat (Dana, its the cape you made for Maddie as a baby), and a toque from Grandma Pollock. It's always important to dress for the weather, especially when travelling.

Finally: only -4C outside!

Nothing better than when good friends come home!

Keel, Steve, Alyssa, and Hayden have moved back to Canada after 3 years (2 1/2?) in Malaysia. I know it was a fabulous experience for them, but its way better for me to have them closer! And Maddie was THRILLED to find kids to play Barbies with!

Dear Death,

Just a little tip:  Maybe if you weren't so FREAKING PERMANENT you would be a bit more popular.

j



Maddie has been really trying to wrap her head around heaven, angels, and all that.  Well, heck, so am I.  Anyway, we have spent more car rides than I actually bargained for on this topic.  The last conversation went a little like this:

Usually begins with a recap on just how you get up there  (we have agreed that no, you do not go by car, instead you grow wings and fly up.  Still stuck on the "spirit" part though).

"Mommy, will you be an angel?"
Yeah, I think I'll like to be an angel.
"But I don't want you to.  I don't want to be an angel"
We won't be angels for a long time.
"But I might want to be something else"
Oh?  What would you like to be?
"I don't know.  (pause)  I think I'll have to talk to God about that."

By Erika, 

for her daughter Elise