Even though Jeff and I were given artsy inclinations by our maker. We try not to overly push, just the arts , moderation is good. But I know Jeff would be so proud of this. During his quiet time Aidan decided to create a masterpiece. Every once in a while he comes up with something really appealing to the eye.

I, wanting to be the encouraging mother said , wow, Aidan I love your work. He grinned, and said. "Yes, this is my masterpiece." I dont know where he got that word from. It was very cute. Hes always saying things like. Hey, they are on our tail. I couldn't figure out where he learnt that ,until the other day I caught myself saying it. Hmm, little sponges:)

My Dear Auntie Pat

Today, early, we found out that my Auntie Pat, my father's sister had suddenly died of an aneurism. She was found in her home. They tried to operate but she passed early this morning. Pat was a quiet, soft, spoken, gentle person. Was well spoken of and practical as well as having many other qualities, I might not say at this time. She is survived by her 2 children David and his sister Angela. My first cousins.
They have spouses and children.
Pat lived in the village of Kirdford Sussex for most of her life. - England
Pat will be missed . Especially hard hit is my father who was very close to her. Dad is going to England on Sunday. Pat's husband Mick passed away in the last few years of cancer so it leaves her children alone now. At 58 Pat was too young to go. We will miss her. It is at these times that I want to go home to England . Dad will be leaving on Sunday night. David will pick him up at the airport. He will stay with David and Sarah the first night , and on Tuesday with his sister Lynne, in Horsham. The rest of the week he will be staying with Pete and Pat in Woking. Dan and Sue will want to visit Im sure.

Age,and the relevancy of life.

Its been a few days. I guess I got busy for a while there. Keeping the kids occupied.

I had this thought this morning about something that happened to us when we were out. The kids and I that is.

So, There we are Aidan ,Mary and I sitting on a bench in the mall relaxing and taking a moment before continueing on. Aidan is an exceeding friendly boy. He greets anybody he can greet. We have discussions on why some people respond and why some people dont'. I have chosen to tell him that some people know how to, others are shy. He told me the other day, after a local boy had ignored his greeting for about the fourth time. "Im teaching them mom." I was so proud of his childlike reaction. Unbiased by preconcieved ideas and biases.

Back to the story at hand though.

So this nice grey haired spry looking lady sits down next to Aidan. He immediately struck up a conversation with her. She asked how old he was and he said ummmm, two? I dont know why he says that when he knows how old he is, but thats OK , hes only four. So, she says ,are you sure your only two ? I leaned over and together we came up with the figure four. Oh ,she said and made a nice comment about how she would like to be that age.. The lady then got up off the bench and again I say, very spryly walked off. As she got a couple feet away she turned back and said. Young man you may be four but I have a nine in front of that. She smiled and trotted off bags in hand. I said, whats your secret to as she left, but she missed it. I turned to my son and said. Aidan. you were just talking to a 94 year old, that was very special. Of course he had no idea what mom was so flabbergasted about. Oh, the things you can learn sitting on a bench in the mall watching the people go by.

Garden gnomes on the brain.

I call this de-stressing writing. And, if you dont have a sense of humor, downright distressing humor.
It all started this morning , when I sent my sister a garden gnome. It was through facebook for her web garden.
Move forward too later this evening. You would see me walking through the gardening section of Canadian Tire. This is a new pastime for me.
My eyes fell upon a very attractive garden gnome. He had just the right painted hue. His eyes beamed up at me and his head tilted just at the right angle. I was drawn to pick him up, imagining how I could give it to my brother-in Law Ashley as a B-Day present joke. Im sure i saw one pop up in the anvil pic's this year. Anyway, I continued pushing the cart and digressed to the camping aisle. Dreaming and wishing I could buy the coolest B-day present for my sister Natalie . A giant Tent villa complete with netting sections and little fake canvas windows, just the trifling price of $224.00. I Imagined how her and her specially invited friends could kick back on Anvil Island up on the top of the hill . Sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies. Watching the people getting eaten alive by mosquito's outside and perhaps allowing them in. I shook my head and advanced to the car wash/product aisle, picking out some some simple green and a nice wooly cleaning mitt. An attractive gift to my husband and an exciting nudge in regards to the filthy condition of our car exterior. It was there, that I glanced down and remembered the garden gnome. He was so perky and as far as garden gnomes go very tempting.

Guess what is sitting wedged between the Sponges and Shammies.......
Poor garden Gnome.

Today started out slowly, but I tackled the sweeping of floors and laundry needing to be done. At about 11:30 I got a knock on my door. It was my close friends and family Marie and Jenn. Laden down with Fraps and Timbits they were a sight for sore eyes! They also had managed to find a singer sewing machine for me and it might even fit into my old sewing desk I use as a Table. It was so nice to see the weather cool down today and I greeted the sight of muggy dull skies. I was praying for a someone to sit for me on sat morn and had mentioned only briefly then left it. Latrer Marie called and offered, I felt relieved. I have very few options so it was a good option. The alternative being 2 kids in a dentist office while I get a cleaning, not fun.

I wait for my love to get home , only 2 hours and 15 minutes.........................................

Our morning has started extremely hot. We will be staying inside and adopting the prairies custom of keeping all the curtains closed and fans going. You are hit by a wall of heat when you go outside.

At 12:00 the earth outside is bone dry and my little plants are dieing. Hopefully the more establised ones will be OK.

I know those in the east think we are unused to these cnditions. But why buy an airconditioner when youll only use it a few times. I was in super store last night and saw a lady walk by the airconditioner boxes, look surreptiously around and then motioned to her son to grab one. $120.00 a pop. Talk about a point of display moment of weakness. Placed conveniantly at the front of the store.

We had one of the last sessions with our speech therapist for Aidan. They get to play great games . The kids look forward to her visits. We are onto S's and Aidan is doing so well.

We will spend all of today hiding indoors. . You step outside and there is no relief. I think we will have a Siesta as the French and Latin take. Luckily I rented the kids Airbud and they are absolutely spell bound watching the puppies. It will help make this day go faster.

I watched Miss Potter last night. I enjoyed it tremendously. The art , country side and lovely romance are just moving. It makes me want to pick up my paint brush and paint again. I havent since I had children. One day when I have a creative space to leave everything the way it is and to paint and draw in peace. Perhaps I will be inspired to Illustrate like when I was in school.

Out.

Fishers of men

(sorry couldnt figure out how to erase pic)

This weeks lesson was about the fishermen and Jesus.

I showed the chidren how Jesus got into Simons boat , taught the fishermen and said lets go out into the deep water. Simon was hesitant about fishing seeing as he had fished all night, when most of us are sleeping. A huge multitude of fishes was caught that day. The fishermen /disciples were so amazed at the miracle that they dropped everthing and followed Christ. Jesus said" I will make you fishers of men." I asked the children what it meant to catch men like fish. It was a good lesson

Here is the fishy bracelet we made. I had limited supplies. Not wanting to pay 9.99 at Micheals for sticky foamy fish x500 , to many. So I made the fish from 2 hearts one bigger, one smaller. I staggered the hearts and one happened to be a thik one cut in half and had a hole in it already for beading . I stuck a long bead in for the eye. The stripe is just a sliver of foam cut willy nilly to make a curve, stuck on and trimmed. The children did fine with me manning the glue gun and showing me what they wanted . The bracelet base I created from cutting 5/8" strips of foam (white) I put a hole in 1/4 fom the end (both ends)pierced with anything . Then I took another long bead 1/8 thick placed into hole so bottom of bead and foam around were level and hot glued on the back a support of a litttle square of foam. It creats a clasp holder for the hole to go on. The kids stuck other little fishes on and were happy with them.

Sunday school Blog.

I had mentioned that I would try to blog about the crafts and lesson I am doing each week. Last Sunday we learnt about Zaccheus' purse and how he extorted peoples money. I put pennies in each child's hands and leaned in and took them all away for a few seconds. You should have seen their eyes. Then I showed how the Lord looked past this. How Zaccheus was so drawn by Christs acceptance of him even though he was an immoral man. He trusted Jesus. Then I took 4 pennies and put them back in and showed how Zaccheus knowing he had taken there money repaid them back fourfold. We took felt camo sheets pink, blue and green ,(an earthy effect)cut them into squares. I used a notcher to notch equal holes all around the 3 sides 1/4 " in, to make a sewable purse. I provided the kids with plastic needles. About a buck at zellers. They sewed with Yarn and then I had a bit that went over to close it. The kids can glue shut sides when they get home.

Today we have Mary biting the head of a stretchy dinosaur wearing some of her new clothes. I couldnt resist the pic of Aidan white as get out and wearing ;ittle guy undies. Hes so soft. My treat as a mummy.

I have a clothing theory . This has happened so many times. So I go to Sears and feeling very responsible stretch my imagination (which is very hard to do, any parent will tell you) all the way to trying to imagine how big my son will be in the winter. It is a boiling day and not the kind of day to think of winter. But ,on this day there was a sale on and I felt very good leaving the store with a pack of undies(for Aidan) , little kid ones are so cute. A lovely fleece quarter zip and a cool Tuscan T-shirt for only $15.00.

Now, the conspiracy is that every time I start looking for the next size or season of clothes. I usually go and purchase pants a shirt something to try to get ahead of the season and it appears that as soon as I do so . I have deposited in my lap a big bag of clothes that are just the right size , combination, season that I need. So that is what happened today again. On saturday,I went and bought the fleece pull over and as if God looked and thought , Oh, Elaine needs winter clothes...(not to be irreverant ) and so this morning at church...Im handed a big ole' bag of really nice clothes collected by friends of ours. She works at a school were very well off children seem to leave tons of label, fine quality barely used clothing cast off like a one wear stop. If they don't claim it then its given away. She scooped a winter jacket and fleece vests ,winter pullovers , gap, polo, etc. And a bunch of reallly cool T-shirts. and a cool winter hat for Aidan.So nice. One less thing to worry about when winter comes and school starts for Aidan. I feel like my kids are so blessed.

Isnt God good?

Great article in a well respected childrens mag ,Junior...The one thing you shouldn't throw in the bin is your childs unwanted clothes.

900,000 tonnes of waste is made up of textiles, 700,000 of which end up in landfill.

Synthetic fibres won't decompose, and although woollen garments do, they also produce methane, and therfore contribute to global warming.

The current craze for cheap clothes-which promotes a cycle of wear and chuck-isnt good for the environment either.

So next time you feel like going on a clothing binge to get all new clothes . Think about what your doing to contribute to the mess we are making. Youl'l get the same feeling using perfectly good used clothes as you get putting your cans, plastic and cardboard in the recycling bin.

Just a thought.

I had a long day today of keeping the kids occupied while Jef worked took his English test for seat placement then went back for the rest of his work day.
I gardened today and it helped pass away the hours. The kids were really good considering and they enjoyed the sprinkler and water guns they were playing with.
The pool was great tonight. Mary from the very get-go kept saying, "I want to swim like a fish" and then she changed to, "I want to swim like a duck" and was completely distressed about it all.
She was crying (the whole swim), "I want to swim in the pool I don't want daddy" , "I want to swim". I assume being an A-Type personality. She didn't want our help. She just wanted to move right on to swimming the length of the pool -like a duck. Ahh toddlers minds and the mysteries they hold. The pool minder commented on Mary ,whats wrong? ,and I said, she's 2. I got the usual open mouthed gape and then a nice reply of . Wow, my daughters 5 and the same size. We then moved itnto the genetics conversation and the discussion that not everybody is average:) As well, the pretty face helps. Completely disregarding the fact that all of God's children are perfectly made in God's eyes. This is so true, I love that.
Aidan is gaining confidence and was going further in the water and holding onto the side. He was as happy as a clam. Little Cohen, our friend was enjoying his swim too, with mummy and daddy.
I am going to enjoy some quality time with my husband. Also to check up on my sunday school lesson for tommorow. I am really enjoying doing these lessons with the craft. We keep running out of time.
Anvil must be over for this week. Lots of friends and family came home today and surely are washing mountains of dank clothes and beaming from their spiritual renewal. Next week will be exciting. Listening to all the stories.
Nothing left in my head.

Flowers.

Today, I spent most of the day cleaning up from our week away. I watered my flowers and noticed tiny blades of grass pushing their way up out of the ground. I guess the seed/ fertilizer is starting to work. My Nasturnum's are starting to flower and I am delighted by the joy my children show at the tiny buds unfurling. Bright scarlet and hot orange.
I went out for a walk around the mall picked up my mail keys from mum at the Bay and then continued on to visit all the toy areas of the place for my kids. It appeared that not a single train was left at the Toys or US train station that is set out for the kids to see. Making my job of peeling them away very easy.
We then went to the Super Store to wile away the rest of the hours until Daddy finished at 9:00. The local A&W is now hosting the local vintage/hotrod car peoples venue. So Langley city streets 200th strip is filled with beautiful cars new and old. All teeming around the A&W. Cool. I noticed a beautiful chubby square brand new chevy SS convertible bright yellow . It even turned my head. My husband wasn't sure what I was describing to hime but the people driving it sure seemed like they were stylin' on a hot summer night.
As we arrived home. We noticed beautiful handcut flowers at the door. A friend has dropped them off . It totally made my day. It is so great when people do small special things just because.
Signing off
I now am relaxing and drinking a diet coke.