working mom

The good thing about being a "working mom" is that there is a significant chunk of most days when I do NOT have to look at this damn laundry pile.

grrr.

It's that time again

Time for another list of random stuff. Are you ready? Ok, go ahead. We'll wait.

There. You settled in now? Ok. Good.

1. Sammy is snoring
2. Bosco is taking up as much space as he possibly can and still remain a Beagle
3. this morning Jason called me the Crazy Alarm Lady. He said "oh we don't have cats, just a dozen alarms". I guess I set the timer one too many times...
4. I'm drinking a Sam Adams beer. It's bitter. I'm not happy with it.
5. Wish I was a runner. Without the actual running part.
6. I want to go traveling.
7. I love when Jason comes home with a little present for me. He almost always hits the mark bang on.
8. I secretly want to go to the Justin Bieber concert. Don't tell anyone.
9. My new hobby seems to be surfing MLS listings.
AND, the final Random Thought of the Evening:


Wait for it.

10. I want to bury (barry? murry? larry?) my laundry pile in the backyard and just start over.

Good night. Irene.
j

Guess what I did today!

I spent the afternoon at Lara's and she showed me how to bake bread! We made four loaves and all four turned out. Amazing. I think this is something I could do. I was glad she taught me though, b/c there are always little tips that are so much better in person, little tricks you don't get from reading a recipe.

What a wonderful gift. Thanks, Lara.

Somethin' is fishy...

We went to Roblin friday and came home late sunday. Ken and Marion (if you don't already know) operate a fish farm in the spring. They sell rainbow trout to farmers and people who want to raise fish on their own land.

It's pretty fun and, believe it or not, I really like working there. I was telling Jason last night - there is something very relaxing about a job that has a clear beginning and ending. There isn't any drama. Just scoop, count (or weigh) and pour 'em in a pail. Now we all know I'm not a fan of long term hard labour (this is why I'm an SLP after all), but I do like some short term hard work and getting dirty. I didn't actually work a whole lot this year b/c there was lots of us there.

Maddie had an absolute blast with her cousins. The three of them discovered fishing! The fish farm is right along the shore of Lake of the Prairies, and located in a popular shore fishing spot. Mackenzie caught a crayfish AND reeled in her own fish all by herself (seated in her lawn chair of course). Maddie caught "a huge fish". Lisa, did Jackson catch one? I can't remember now. Probably. Anyway, I think we have the next generation of fishing fans in our family.

I also managed to squeeze in a wonderful 4 hour coffee with Grandma Pollock. So great as always. I managed to pick up a couple of these scarves (see below). Give her a shout (or me) if you want one - she's selling them and would love to make one just for you.

So today I spent 2 hours getting the beagle out of my car. There wasn't ACTUALLY a beagle in there, but enough hair and nose prints to re-create the beagle experience. No thank you. Now Maddie and I are skipping into town to pick up some seeds and flowers and we'll get the garden plot (think "that's where she stashed the body" size) and flower beds done today I hope. Weeknights never seem to have enough time.

The house is pretty much a gong show but it's just going to have to stay that way until the next rainy day.

ummm

"Mom, can we put on skah-beeto skray?"

She <3s JB

Holly (from work) has two girls who are just enough older than Maddie to give some Justin Bieber hand-me-downs. One t-shirt and a nightie. Both are hue-normous (as Madge would say) but she loves them both anyway.

before (well the middle really)

Do I really need to title this one?

Uncle Garnet

Jason and Brian (his cousin) gave the eulogy at Uncle Garnet's service.

This is what Jason wrote:

My Uncle Garnet

When I was asked to help with my uncle Garnet's eulogy I was honored as well as scared. I was scared that I couldn't write something about Uncle Garnet without leaving out important details and events of his life. Everybody here probably has different memories of Uncle Garnet. You are welcome to think about those while I ramble about mine. I can't tell you everything in one speech. Uncle Garnie was such a big part of my life, there are too many stories to tell today. But someone told me to write something from the heart and write what I know about him. That's what I'm going to try to do.

Garnet Markosky
Uncle Garnet
Uncle Garnie

I remember an uncle with the biggest voice. “HEY JAY, HOW YA DOING” he would always say to me. And in the next breath “How's that big girl of yours”.
 
As big and scary sounding Uncle Garnie was, he had a calming way about him. I remember one trip to the valley when Madeleine was a baby, she was crying and fussy for everyone. And then we handed her to Uncle Garnie and she stopped crying. She was so content with him. It was the same for me. Problems never seemed so bad once I was talking to him. Or I guess I should say when I was listening to him talk.

They probably didn't know it, but Uncle Garnet and my Dad were and are my most important teachers. They taught me how to
- hunt, and spot a deer
- skin a deer
- fish
- find deals at auctions
- and again, unknowing to them....curse

Uncle Garnet gave me my first real gun. A Cooey 22 single shot bolt action Rabbit gun. I remember the day clear as if it was yesterday. It was the annual dysfunctional Christmas supper at our house...how I miss those.... when Auntie Dodie and Uncle Garnet walked though the door. Uncle Garnie calls me over and hands me a box, I open it and with his big grumbly voice:
“Happy Birthday Jay!!”
"Great little gun, She's accurate as hell."

I shot so many rounds through that gun that I used to have to use my thumb to help push the bolt forward because the gun wouldn't fire anymore...Best birthday present I've ever received.

My favorite part of hunting trips was not actually the hunting. It was waiting for his phone call “Are you ready to go?” He and I would drive around “Kuwait” We called the Shelmouth area “Kuwait” b/c that's where Uncle Bob's big crew of hunters would go. All that shooting and deer flying, it seemed like a good name. As we drove around he would talk. And talk. And basically tell me the same stories year after year but I loved listening to him.

If you don't already know, all the Markoskys have the talking gene. Except me. I must have been given the listening gene for all of those stories. We would just sit for hours and he would talk. A day of hunting was hours of Uncle Garnet telling stories with about 60 seconds of sheer panic when a deer would come into view. “Holy BLEEP there's one. Get out and shoot it!” Oh by the way, he was the spotter. I was always the shooter when we were together.

The other night Dad told me there won't be a white truck waiting for us out in the field after the evening hunt. No, I guess there won't, but I know my Uncle Garnie will forever be with us in our hearts and thoughts, no matter where we are.

So long Uncle Garnie. I love you....We all love you. Keep the truck warm as I'm sure I'll see you again.

You're the best uncle a guy could have....

Jason Markosky
May 7, 2012

for the record

When I post using my iPad, it seems to freak out when I suggest an apostrophe. As you may have noticed. (see next post if you're all "what the hell, Jenn")

Mother's Day

First of all: Happy Mother's day to My Mom, to Marion, and to Donna. You are three very important mothers to me.

And now: Back to me! I had SUCH an awesome mother's day. It started with Maddie letting me "sleep in" (8a.m.) Then we had pancakes and puttered around. After lunch we went geo caching and we actually found the cache! Our first time ever. So fun. And I also found about 6 or 7 wood ticks.

THEN Jason took Maddie to Canadian Tire to buy a blow up pool and some weed and feed. This meant I had the house to myself for two hours. TWO HOURS. I sat outside, read a book, drank a beer, got a sunburn. I was basically multitasking.

AND THEN Maddie and I planted the pansies Grandpa (forgot?) left behind. They are hers now.

To top it all off, Jason helped me hang the mirror I painted. Now a little history on this mirror: I bought it last summer for $10 at a garage sale. It was black. Probably if it was any other colour I would have painted it black. But it was already black and I couldn't just LEAVE IT. So I painted it cream. Only it was the exact same colour as my walls. And that wasn't what I was going for. So I was all "what colour can I paint this damn thing". My tables (painted) are a peacock blue. My lamp and other "accents" are lime green. I'm not crazy about the lime enough to have a lime mirror. Then WHAMO I bought this fabulous orange elephant (new, gasp) and the idea was born. Or germinated. Or whatever.

I freaking love it. Credit has to go to my Dad b/c he actually pre-hung it for me. And he put it in the most awesome spot.

Next project: to hang all the amazing photos Lisa has done for us. I have so many to choose from, so that task is a bit more overwhelming. Might have to save that one for when Dad is here again.

Bye.

Uncle Garnet

When I was in high school I was sure Uncle Garnet was the scariest man alive.  I mean really, he was this giant man, with a big cigar (I don't know if he actually had a big cigar but I always thought it suited him) and a booming voice.    I imagined he would have a big mafia accent and know people like "Jimmy Two Times".  And of course, I was sure he would "put a hit out" on me if I ever made a wrong step.

But then, not too long after that I discovered he was the biggest softie around.  Marshmallow?  In the dictionary you'll find his picture.  It wasn't long until he became my favorite uncle, even if it was by marriage. 

Uncle Garnet loved a good treasure.  He was a man after my own heart.  His place was a true treasure chest of goodies.  When we had a party for Ken and Marion's 40th wedding anniversary we held it in their yard.  Whenever Lisa and I would say "Uncle  Garnet, do you have _______"  he would say "How many do you want?".  And away we would go.  One of my favorite things over the years was to look through his eleventy billion sheds and discover so many wonderful goodies.  Those sheds are like paradise to me. 

Uncle Garnet also helped Marion and me start a bit of a family tree when Maddie was born.  He was able to fill some blanks for us.

In the top two pictures Maddie is still a baby.  I remember that day b/c Maddie was fussy for everybody, but as soon as Uncle Garnet got a hold of her she settled right down.  He had the touch. 

Good Bye Uncle Garnet.  We will miss you.  You are loved.

Mommy, can I have a tampon?

For my coffee maker.



Yeah. So here's the rest of the story: After twelve (12) years I finally went out and bought myself a new coffee maker. Maddie quickly pounced on my old one and moved it into the living room. She needed it to serve her salon customers some coffee.

But she had to make some coffee. And she needed a tampon. (COFFEE FILTER)

Phew.

See the picture below.