School supplies?

Will Madge really use thirty (30!) pencils in grade one? Six (6) post it note pads? Seriously? And is this art school?

We have to sharpen ALL OF THESE FREAKING PENCILS??

What do you people with multiple children do?

"nay vors"

The people in the house next door.

- MJM Dictionary

Madge says....

This is where "the olden days were".

Making Fridge Pickles

Marion's Recipe:
7 heaping cups of sliced cucumbers
1-2 onions, sliced
1 cup of vinegar
2 cups of sugar
1 tsp salt
1tsp celery salt

put it all together in a big tupperware, wait 24 hours (give it a little shakey shake every once in a while) and ENJOY!

Thank you

Thank you Auntie Lisa, for taking Maddie to the pool, AND THEN for a sleepover! You are so amazing. We are so grateful to have you!

It was more than a summer job.

I worked for the Wendell's for three summers. The first summer I lived at home and drove out to the farm near MacNutt, SK everyday. But by the second summer my parents had moved to a community 5 hours north. I have never spent much time exploring any potential connection there. I didn't threaten to move home again and they didn't move away.

So the second summer I stayed in a campground maybe 15 minutes (I really have no idea) from the farm. This was a good set up, I had my own space, teeny as it was. My parents let me use their 15 foot (?) 1983 Prowler. Oh yeah. Again, this generosity might have been to discourage any job, searches in Flin Flon...hmmm, hadn't thought of that. But I didn't want to go to Flin Flon, I wanted to go back to the honey farm and work with Keely, Jake and Sharky. So I camped, at Pyotts West, a campground on the (wait for it) west side of Lake of the Prairies.That camper was great, but it was pretty teeny - good for one person. Not sure how my whole family ever used that thing.  Keel, Isabel and I called it my "Compartment"  and several times considered writing Bill Richardson at the CBC with tales of that space. 

That was the summer Keely made me a tape: one side had Living Under June (Jann Arden) and the other had Surfacing (Sarah Mclachlan).  In 1995 there wasn't much for radio in the country (just good ol' GX94) so I listened to those tapes.  I listened a lot.  And when I didn't have those on I listened to CBC radio.  "As it Happens" with Michael Enright and Barbara Budd, Vicky Gabareau, Peter Gzowski - they all kept me company at work and in my little compartment.  Those were the summers I fell in love with the CBC.

Now if you can think WAY back to 1995ish - member how we didn't have cell phones?  At all?  And sometimes we didn't even have a phone that wasn't attached to the wall? GASP?  I called people from the PAYPHONE.  Looking back I'm really not sure how I managed that but I will you this:  I wasn't bored and  I wasn't lonely (well, maybe twice).  I was freaking EXHAUSTED, who had time for lonely or bored??

Summer three was to be my last summer with the Wendells.  By then they had adopted me and let me stay in their house.   They charged me some scandolously cheap fee for room and board.  I thought I was in heaven.  Especially when you remember the summer before I ate hotdogs and lived in a compartment.  Now would be the time to mention that ISABEL CAN COOK!  Wow.  And she made my lunch!  That was probably one of my most favorite summers. As I write this, I'm truly considering moving back in.  I would probably have to kick someone out of my room.  That would be awkward, but only for the first little bit. 

Working on a honey farm was important to me b/c I truly think it changed who I am today.  I learned about myself working there.  I mean, I give credit to my parents and to my boss at my first job (gas jockey, full service "jump to the MF pump kids") with teaching me about responsibility and hard work, but it all came into play at the honey farm. 

I learned:
- that I never (ever) want to work hard again.  I learned to think long and hard about my lifelong career and to choose something with decent hours, air conditioning, nice clothes, and the option to sit down whenever the hell I want. 
- the joy of a coffee break
- the honey farm = fat camp.  So long "Freshman 15"
- I can catch a gardner snake and toss the efffer into the bush to save my dear friend Keely. 
- I am not afraid of live mice, but the thought of discovering a dead rat filled me with unreasonable horror
- pancakes are served best with sour cream and brown sugar (thank you for that gift Grandma Wendell)
- I don't swell when a bee stings me (which sucks b/c then NO ONE CARES  and you STILL HAVE TO WORK)
- a cold budweiser at 5:30 on a friday is The Best Thing Ever

Tim and Isy, I hope Maddie can come and work for you someday.  I want her to learn all of the above. Thank you.



You don't believe me?  Check it out...
http://wendellestate.ca/
http://www.prairiebees.ca

Josie

Seriously, what is there not to love?

Sammy and other Furry Friends

Thank you to everyone who has been asking how our Sammy is doing. She seems to be doing better - she isn't throwing up. We don't know exactly what is causing her discomfort, we know it is not pancreatitis but we don't know past that. She is pretty quiet and prefers to sleep on the couch - this isn't much different from her usual personality, just a bit slower and a bit quieter. She has a new diet: canned food and special dry food. According to Sam, this Is The Greatest Food Ever. She perks right up when it's mealtime. Yesterday she barked at Jason until he stopped what he was doing and fed her.


In other news: we are babysitting Miss Josie, Lisa and Jayson's little English Cocker Spaniel. She is so cute and full of love and energy. Unfortunately (for all of us), Bosco finds her Very Irritating, So Immature, and Quite a Nuisance. He seems to have no memory of his puppy days... And Josie? Well, the poor girl just can't take a hint. She just keeps trying. And trying. And trying.

Good thing she's so darn cute.

Sammy is sick

And this makes me so sad. She is not quite 10, but I guess that still makes her an old girl. Every time she gets sick now I always worry. The love from a dog is different than any other kind. It's the truest form of unconditional love. She loves me no matter how I look and regardless of what I say. She is happiest when we are around.

And today she can't get up from the bathroom floor. She didn't even move to fluff up the towels I gave her. Just set her head on the edge.

I think she might finally be sleeping. I think she is dreaming of rabbits. She is young in her dreams. And in my heart.

"I found it on the backstreet"

Me: what's a 'backstreet'?
Maddie: a backstreet is a kind of music. Like the Backstreet Boys.
Me: oh.

Maddie & Daddy

2nd annual Maddie Daddy Day at the Ex ("fair" for the rest of the world, including us)

Wheels

Maddie and Jason have been practicing a bit with only one training wheel.  We do need to get out and practice more though.  Mandy lent us their "no pedals" bike - do you know what I mean?  Its those bikes well, with no pedals.  The theory is that the kid learns to balance and then learns to pedal.  I think it's a good theory.  Our problem with the bike we borrowed seemed to be in two parts:
1. the bike was maybe a titch too small
2. the bike did not look as though Disney princesses had vomited all over it.  That's pretty much a deal breaker right there.

So she is back on the Pink Princess Parade and loving it.