I am tired.
Lately, the more I have been sleeping, the more sleep it would appear I require. I’m not sure if my current state is because of a busy past weekend or something more.
I’ve not been very pleased with a number of things at work over the last little while, but I can’t imagine that has drained me this much. I have updated my resume and I’ve even sent a couple out to some really interesting-sounding jobs, but I’m still enjoying the day to day tasks of my job. (Not many others can have that claim, I hear.)
Since we are looking at a long weekend, I am hoping that the extra day of a sleep in will provide me with the rest I require. I told Hubby that I didn’t want to go to the cottage this weekend. I just want to have a weekend at home, in my own bed, doing what I want to do whenever the urge strikes me. He was okay with that – he always has about a million little projects on the go. So, this weekend, the first of a number of long weekends, we have no plans what so ever.
Next week is a short work week, then I will be off for a week’s holidays. I won’t be going anywhere for these holidays, however. S will be participating in a special educational technology camp every afternoon from 1pm until 4pm, and one parent is to attend the camp with him. S will be given more intensive training on his laptop – using the various programs that he has installed on it – and I will be learning more about the devices, too. It is the hope of Hubby and I that S will learn a few more things about his system and will be more willing to use it in class. (Always seems to be an issue for him in the past.)
I don’t think the school office will be open for that week, but I am going to have to make an appointment to find out more about the EA that S may have, as well as the timing he will have an EA for. I will also have to try and meet each of the teachers and inform them of the uniqueness that is S. I think it’s imperative that each teacher receive some type of forewarning.
Since the technology camp is in the afternoons only, I am really looking forward to being able to take my time in the mornings and just putter and get things done around the house and yard. This too should allow for some extra rest time for me.
Oh! We have started getting eggs from the chickens! The last couple of days we have had three eggs laid in a couple of different nests. We’ve only had one soft-shelled egg so far, and each day they seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I used one yesterday for my breakfast, and it was a double-yoked egg. The first two eggs that we got had a small blood spot in each of them, but I haven’t seen any since then. Not sure how long it will take until each hen starts laying an egg a day, but it’s a nice surprise to go in to the coop each day to see what has been left for us!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Adjusting to life with young adults
I worked at an outdoor event this past weekend for the State. This was our third year participating in the event, and it was a wet one!
I think I am coming down with a cold now.
Again, I've started to realize more and more that my 'babies' are growing up. Hubby was working evening last week, but I needed to be away from the house for both Thursday and Friday night - therefore leaving the boys alone. Not for overnight, but until Hubby arrives home sometime around 1 am. I was nervous about this, naturally, and when I called them to check in on Thursday night, the A-man told me to relax - they were fine.
When I was 16, my parents would leave me at home for entire weekends because I had taken a part time job and they didn't want to give up their weekends at the trailer for me to stay home and work for $3.00 an hour. At that time, I didn't think anything of it. I would spend the days with my friends and/or boyfriend, then I would go to work for my shifts. Often times I would be done work around 11:30, midnight, and I would walk home. Many times I walked home - sometimes my boyfriend would pick me up if he wasn't working at his restaurant-based job. I lived quite a distance from where I worked, and I thought nothing of walking that distance by myself at that time of night.
There is no way I would allow either of my sons to do that! I know I was never frightened of making that journey, but I guess timse have changed quite a bit in the past 25 years. The town is still a 'small' town, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't allow my sons to do that.
Either way, I need to start getting my head around the fact that they are old enough to spend some time without a parent at home. They can both cook, and they are responsible enough to ensure that doors are locked, lights are off, etc., etc., etc.
When did my babies turn into wee adults?
I think I am coming down with a cold now.
Again, I've started to realize more and more that my 'babies' are growing up. Hubby was working evening last week, but I needed to be away from the house for both Thursday and Friday night - therefore leaving the boys alone. Not for overnight, but until Hubby arrives home sometime around 1 am. I was nervous about this, naturally, and when I called them to check in on Thursday night, the A-man told me to relax - they were fine.
When I was 16, my parents would leave me at home for entire weekends because I had taken a part time job and they didn't want to give up their weekends at the trailer for me to stay home and work for $3.00 an hour. At that time, I didn't think anything of it. I would spend the days with my friends and/or boyfriend, then I would go to work for my shifts. Often times I would be done work around 11:30, midnight, and I would walk home. Many times I walked home - sometimes my boyfriend would pick me up if he wasn't working at his restaurant-based job. I lived quite a distance from where I worked, and I thought nothing of walking that distance by myself at that time of night.
There is no way I would allow either of my sons to do that! I know I was never frightened of making that journey, but I guess timse have changed quite a bit in the past 25 years. The town is still a 'small' town, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't allow my sons to do that.
Either way, I need to start getting my head around the fact that they are old enough to spend some time without a parent at home. They can both cook, and they are responsible enough to ensure that doors are locked, lights are off, etc., etc., etc.
When did my babies turn into wee adults?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Most enjoyable evening
S and I had eye appointments yesterday. Apparently the doctor could see no muscular reason for S's lazy eye and gave him a bit of a strengthening exercise to try and keep that eye from wandering. The same eye is also slightly near sighted, but not enough to be concerned about as yet.
On our way home we picked the A-man up from his day with Jazzy's brother. Sounds like they had an enjoyable day, too.
When we got home, the boys got ready and went for a swim. Yes! We have the pool up and running finally! While they were swimming, I decided to continue to pull the huge weeds out from my gardens and pathways. I filled the wheelbarrow 4 times...
I finished my weed pulling by my favourite place to sit in the garden, and was inspired. I came in the house and grabbed my book - Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul - a wine glass and a bottle of Cab Franc. I also grabbed my bug jacket. I went and placed these items on the bench, then went and raided the A-man's wood pile.
I started a nice wee fire in the chiminea that I placed in my lily garden this spring, and sat on my garden bench (which is between two big pine trees) while reading my book and having a glass of wine! It would have been perfect if I hadn't needed to wear netting over my body, but we can't have everything now can we?
It started to get darker, and I could no longer read, so I just sat on the bench watching the fire and sipping my wine. Suddenly I could hear sounds of water moving behind me and over to my left. I sat very still and listened. The movement and splash sounds started to come closer... and closer. (Behind my garden bench is a long ditch that runs the length of our property - we have ducks in the spring, and once had a beaver build a damn in the ditch.)
I turned to look into the water area to see what was heading my way. The bushes were moving ever so slightly, and the moving water sound was very close. Suddenly, I saw it. At first I thought it was a duck, but it wouldn't make sense that I would have heard that; they are usually silent. My eyes peered into the darkness, slowly adjusting to the dimness, and I then realized that I was looking at a baby raccoon. "Oh, hello!" I said. The wee little guy just sort of froze.
The next thing I knew, there was some serious growling coming from the ditch, a little further back than where the babe was. Momma. I watched the baby scamper out of the ditch and head to some trees on the other side. It was facinating to see him just climb that tree like it was flat. I heard, but couldn't see, more scammering into the trees. Momma continued to growl at me. I told her that I wasn't going to do anything, but she didn't seem to want to listen. By this time I was sitting on the edge of my bench, ready to run if I needed to.
I guess she realized that I wasn't a threat to her babies, because she stopped growling at me, but I know that she was sitting watching me. I finished my wine, made sure the fire was just about out, and headed back in to the house. (I guess these are the critters that have been trying to get in to my chickens.)
Not your everyday occurence, that's for sure! I could have done without the growling part of the evening; I was scared of her jumping out at me, and I didn't even really know where she was. I didn't think that she would attack - that is something they only do when cornered, or when someone is harming her baby, but still - it was quite the growl.
I did enjoy the sitting by the fire in my favourite spot of the garden - I will have to repeat this part of the evening again!
On our way home we picked the A-man up from his day with Jazzy's brother. Sounds like they had an enjoyable day, too.
When we got home, the boys got ready and went for a swim. Yes! We have the pool up and running finally! While they were swimming, I decided to continue to pull the huge weeds out from my gardens and pathways. I filled the wheelbarrow 4 times...
I finished my weed pulling by my favourite place to sit in the garden, and was inspired. I came in the house and grabbed my book - Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul - a wine glass and a bottle of Cab Franc. I also grabbed my bug jacket. I went and placed these items on the bench, then went and raided the A-man's wood pile.
I started a nice wee fire in the chiminea that I placed in my lily garden this spring, and sat on my garden bench (which is between two big pine trees) while reading my book and having a glass of wine! It would have been perfect if I hadn't needed to wear netting over my body, but we can't have everything now can we?
It started to get darker, and I could no longer read, so I just sat on the bench watching the fire and sipping my wine. Suddenly I could hear sounds of water moving behind me and over to my left. I sat very still and listened. The movement and splash sounds started to come closer... and closer. (Behind my garden bench is a long ditch that runs the length of our property - we have ducks in the spring, and once had a beaver build a damn in the ditch.)
I turned to look into the water area to see what was heading my way. The bushes were moving ever so slightly, and the moving water sound was very close. Suddenly, I saw it. At first I thought it was a duck, but it wouldn't make sense that I would have heard that; they are usually silent. My eyes peered into the darkness, slowly adjusting to the dimness, and I then realized that I was looking at a baby raccoon. "Oh, hello!" I said. The wee little guy just sort of froze.
The next thing I knew, there was some serious growling coming from the ditch, a little further back than where the babe was. Momma. I watched the baby scamper out of the ditch and head to some trees on the other side. It was facinating to see him just climb that tree like it was flat. I heard, but couldn't see, more scammering into the trees. Momma continued to growl at me. I told her that I wasn't going to do anything, but she didn't seem to want to listen. By this time I was sitting on the edge of my bench, ready to run if I needed to.
I guess she realized that I wasn't a threat to her babies, because she stopped growling at me, but I know that she was sitting watching me. I finished my wine, made sure the fire was just about out, and headed back in to the house. (I guess these are the critters that have been trying to get in to my chickens.)
Not your everyday occurence, that's for sure! I could have done without the growling part of the evening; I was scared of her jumping out at me, and I didn't even really know where she was. I didn't think that she would attack - that is something they only do when cornered, or when someone is harming her baby, but still - it was quite the growl.
I did enjoy the sitting by the fire in my favourite spot of the garden - I will have to repeat this part of the evening again!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Time's slipping away...
I think this has been the longest that I have neglected my poor blog!
Quick update on the "farming" side of my life: two eggs were laid the other day (!), we lost two chickens in as many days - silly girls flew out of their run never to be seen again, and a pheasant has some how gotten out of the coop so we are down to 19 chickens and 11 pheasants.
Now, let's see if I can do some recap... Boys and Hubby were off at the cottage and left me home alone for the week. I enjoyed that week even though I didn't really do anything other than housework and read! But I will admit that I did get kind of lonely, too.
The second week of Hubby's holidays was also a holiday week for me. We went up to the cottage on the Friday evening.
On Saturday, we went to the trailer park where Cuz has her 'summer home'. My cousin (that is Cuz's husband) has recently finished his stem cell transplant - which will hopefully knock this blasted cancer out of his body forever - and that Saturday was a fundraiser day for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. (This is the cancer hospital where he underwent his treatment.) Although my cousin was supposed to me running this fundraising event, we knew the responsibility would fall to others as his heart is in the right place, but his organizational skills are just a little lacking...
Anyway, there was a pig roast, a live band, a motorcycle show-and-shine, and a horseshoe tournament, and the last report that I got is that the event raised over $3,500, which is pretty incredible considering the size of the venue. Cuz and I were able to sneak away to spend a bit of quality chat-time together, but of course it wasn't enough. We never seem to get enough of that.
On the Sunday afternoon, Sammy and her Hubby arrived at the cottage for a week of holiday fun with us. The weather did not cooperate for most of the week, but at least the Thursday and Friday were nice. (We are really having a terrible summer so far - the temperatures and sunshine don't seem to realize that it is July in Ontario!!)
We came home on the Saturday morning, and Sunday was the "Kid's Fishing Day" event for the Fish & Game Club we belong to. I tried - unsuccessfully - to wake the boys to come with me so that as a family we could assist the club, but since it was the first time the boys had slept in their own beds for quite a while, I guess they were happy to stay snuggled under the comforters.
I went to the event to provide my help, and it was very successful indeed! We had over 240 kids participate in the 4 hour fishing day, and it was really great to see the reaction of some of these children when they caught a fish for the very first time. It was also a very nice feeling to be able to give each child their own rod and reel when they left that afternoon. I'm sorry the boys missed it, actually.
This past week went by a blur, to be honest. Monday evening the boys and I harvested some lettuce and went to deliver a bag of it to our new neighbours. (Nothings says "Welcome" like a bag of fresh produce...)
On Tuesday I stopped in to see a friend on my way home from work, and ending up staying for a while to assist her with preparing a legal document. When I got home I started working on updating my resume.
Wednesday night took me to an appreciation dinner. We went to a wedding a little while back, and the parents of the groom held a dinner for those of us that helped with getting the tent ready. Isn't that nice? I told her we helped because we WANTED to and didn't expect anything in return, but they hosted a dinner anyway. It was a very enjoyable evening.
Thursday was my golf lesson night.
Friday I left work early - it was actually sunny and beautiful in the morning, and I'd made plans with Jazzy's mom to have an afternoon on the beach. It started to rain just as we were heading out, but we had a nice visit at their house regardless.
We didn't stay late that afternoon, although she was very kind and had invited us to stay for dinner. I had not been sleeping well last week, and after we left Jazzy's, the boys and I picked up groceries, and when we got home, I left them to put everything away so that I could lay down for a nap. I had a good nap and still went to bed that night at 10:30!
Last week Hubby was on afternoons, and my travels kept me away from the house for most of the nights until late, but the boys managed just fine. I'm in a state of adjustment right now, I think. I'm starting to come to the realization that my kids don't really need me anymore; they are starting to be independent individuals. Okay, that's not quite true - they still need me, but they don't need me as much, for as many things.
I remember longing for those days... when I couldn't pick up a phone without having the two of them break into a fight or suddenly have something they HAD to tell me, when I had to either make all my plans for when Hubby was on days or hire a sitter, when I had to make sure I got home right after work so that dinner was finished and we had some time together before they went to bed.
And now that time is here... now I am simply the person that makes sure there is food in the house and that can transport whenever necessary and that goes to bed before they even think about it... I'm not sure I'm ready for this!
Quick update on the "farming" side of my life: two eggs were laid the other day (!), we lost two chickens in as many days - silly girls flew out of their run never to be seen again, and a pheasant has some how gotten out of the coop so we are down to 19 chickens and 11 pheasants.
Now, let's see if I can do some recap... Boys and Hubby were off at the cottage and left me home alone for the week. I enjoyed that week even though I didn't really do anything other than housework and read! But I will admit that I did get kind of lonely, too.
The second week of Hubby's holidays was also a holiday week for me. We went up to the cottage on the Friday evening.
On Saturday, we went to the trailer park where Cuz has her 'summer home'. My cousin (that is Cuz's husband) has recently finished his stem cell transplant - which will hopefully knock this blasted cancer out of his body forever - and that Saturday was a fundraiser day for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. (This is the cancer hospital where he underwent his treatment.) Although my cousin was supposed to me running this fundraising event, we knew the responsibility would fall to others as his heart is in the right place, but his organizational skills are just a little lacking...
Anyway, there was a pig roast, a live band, a motorcycle show-and-shine, and a horseshoe tournament, and the last report that I got is that the event raised over $3,500, which is pretty incredible considering the size of the venue. Cuz and I were able to sneak away to spend a bit of quality chat-time together, but of course it wasn't enough. We never seem to get enough of that.
On the Sunday afternoon, Sammy and her Hubby arrived at the cottage for a week of holiday fun with us. The weather did not cooperate for most of the week, but at least the Thursday and Friday were nice. (We are really having a terrible summer so far - the temperatures and sunshine don't seem to realize that it is July in Ontario!!)
We came home on the Saturday morning, and Sunday was the "Kid's Fishing Day" event for the Fish & Game Club we belong to. I tried - unsuccessfully - to wake the boys to come with me so that as a family we could assist the club, but since it was the first time the boys had slept in their own beds for quite a while, I guess they were happy to stay snuggled under the comforters.
I went to the event to provide my help, and it was very successful indeed! We had over 240 kids participate in the 4 hour fishing day, and it was really great to see the reaction of some of these children when they caught a fish for the very first time. It was also a very nice feeling to be able to give each child their own rod and reel when they left that afternoon. I'm sorry the boys missed it, actually.
This past week went by a blur, to be honest. Monday evening the boys and I harvested some lettuce and went to deliver a bag of it to our new neighbours. (Nothings says "Welcome" like a bag of fresh produce...)
On Tuesday I stopped in to see a friend on my way home from work, and ending up staying for a while to assist her with preparing a legal document. When I got home I started working on updating my resume.
Wednesday night took me to an appreciation dinner. We went to a wedding a little while back, and the parents of the groom held a dinner for those of us that helped with getting the tent ready. Isn't that nice? I told her we helped because we WANTED to and didn't expect anything in return, but they hosted a dinner anyway. It was a very enjoyable evening.
Thursday was my golf lesson night.
Friday I left work early - it was actually sunny and beautiful in the morning, and I'd made plans with Jazzy's mom to have an afternoon on the beach. It started to rain just as we were heading out, but we had a nice visit at their house regardless.
We didn't stay late that afternoon, although she was very kind and had invited us to stay for dinner. I had not been sleeping well last week, and after we left Jazzy's, the boys and I picked up groceries, and when we got home, I left them to put everything away so that I could lay down for a nap. I had a good nap and still went to bed that night at 10:30!
Last week Hubby was on afternoons, and my travels kept me away from the house for most of the nights until late, but the boys managed just fine. I'm in a state of adjustment right now, I think. I'm starting to come to the realization that my kids don't really need me anymore; they are starting to be independent individuals. Okay, that's not quite true - they still need me, but they don't need me as much, for as many things.
I remember longing for those days... when I couldn't pick up a phone without having the two of them break into a fight or suddenly have something they HAD to tell me, when I had to either make all my plans for when Hubby was on days or hire a sitter, when I had to make sure I got home right after work so that dinner was finished and we had some time together before they went to bed.
And now that time is here... now I am simply the person that makes sure there is food in the house and that can transport whenever necessary and that goes to bed before they even think about it... I'm not sure I'm ready for this!
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