tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91813589311125919032024-03-05T10:41:14.361-08:00Mighty Little AcornsMighty oaks from little acorns growUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-81186160052739459912013-09-18T20:12:00.003-07:002014-09-10T12:08:05.025-07:00This Mama's Moving On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a number of new endeavors to serve as excuses for letting my blog languish over the summer and I'm sure you could correctly guess a number of them. It's true I've been busy gardening, road tripping, running in sprinklers, blogging and posting for friends and clients, but I've also been organizing Vancouver's only women's bootcamp with free onsite childcare: Mama Fitcamp.<br />
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I regret to inform you that I'm putting this blog on official, undetermined hiatus while I focus on keeping fitcamp going strong. You can, however, continue to follow me and my adventures in motherhood at <a href="http://facebook.com/mamafitcamp">facebook.com/mamafitcamp</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-5696528363371548022013-06-14T20:05:00.002-07:002013-06-14T20:05:32.621-07:00Edible DIY: Bring on The Veggie Pate<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3MU2rRY3jd8A0WxZLPI7ciroghs8cC-g5YrtGw4wwnaWldkXNIQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3MU2rRY3jd8A0WxZLPI7ciroghs8cC-g5YrtGw4wwnaWldkXNIQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3MU2rRY3jd8A0WxZLPI7ciroghs8cC-g5YrtGw4wwnaWldkXNIQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3MU2rRY3jd8A0WxZLPI7ciroghs8cC-g5YrtGw4wwnaWldkXNIQ" width="288" /></a><br />
I was a vegetarian for ten years and some of these years I lived in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal">Canada's cultural capital</a>, la belle ville de Montreal. It was here that I first ate at a vegetarian chain restaurant (<a href="http://commensal.com/en/restaurants/index.htm">Le Commensal</a>) and discovered veggie pate. Once I found this salty, vegetable-based spread in grocery stores it became my default meal of choice: veggie pate spread on <a href="http://www.stviateurbagel.com/main/">St. Viateur </a>bagels with slices of tomato and arugula if I could get it. Le Comemensal pate ingredients are all pretty simple: sunflower seeds, onions, carrots, potatoes, salt, lemon juice, and spices. Though not gourmet, they're certainly pronounceable.<br />
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After leaving Montreal it was years before I encountered veggie pate again and that's probably a good thing as I'd eaten enough of it not to miss it. That is, until this winter at a Vancouver farmer's market when I came across <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PasticheFoodandConcepts">Pate Pastiche</a> which takes the old familiar recipe and cranks the gourmet-o-meter up a few notches.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not pass Pate Pastiche's sample table by !</td></tr>
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They refer to theirs "seed and grain pate", it is gluten-free and vegan, and they make several delectable varieties including sunshine tomato, forest mushroom, and market herb. It took me much too long to choose which to take home, but, after sampling all the varieties, I settled on their squash and sage because it is reminiscent of my old university days standby, only smoother and, well, more grown-up - just like me.<br />
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Every spring the winter farmer's market closes in my 'hood and they set up for the summer at a more remote location and so, as my pate supply is now a drive away, I've begun making my own. It is remarkably easy and the results have been excellent though not quite as perfected as Pate Pastiche. Below is my current best recipe though I'm on the hunt for variations!<br />
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<b>Veggie Pate </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyurPZTK6hmZIbzrIdEZBk_MfSCSYenHI3_-3k6d1W8rR1G4XQzjt8_4AIaQ3R1vDpb12g1zEomw5AKTW78qxkB-l9OsfUUmO7rTu89mLIx5YUUokkoMNvbJSboYIptF0VSffo4pSA6VqB/s400/veggie+pate+010altered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyurPZTK6hmZIbzrIdEZBk_MfSCSYenHI3_-3k6d1W8rR1G4XQzjt8_4AIaQ3R1vDpb12g1zEomw5AKTW78qxkB-l9OsfUUmO7rTu89mLIx5YUUokkoMNvbJSboYIptF0VSffo4pSA6VqB/s400/veggie+pate+010altered.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine turned out just like <a href="http://foodstylistinmontreal.blogspot.ca/2010/03/veggie-pate-i-first-made-this-pate-when.html">this</a> Montreal food stylists.</td></tr>
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1/2 cup unsalted, unroasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds<br />
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2 garlic cloves <br />
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1 large onion<br />
2 potatoes<br />
1 large carrot<br />
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1 celery stalk<br />
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3/4 cup whole wheat flour<br />
1/2 cup nutritional yeast<br />
2 tbsp of olive oil <br />
2 tbsp lemon juice<br />
1/4 cup soy sauce or Braggs<br />
2 tsp your favorite herbs - basil, oregano, celery seeds, sage, thyme, etc<br />
Salt and pepper, to taste<br />
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Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 pan (for thicker bricks) or a 9x13 pan (for thinner slabs). <br />
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Grind up the seeds in the food processor with the blade attachment until they are ground but not pasty. Remove and set aside.<br />
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Next, blend the garlic and, once finely chopped, replace the blade with the grating disc. You can leave the garlic in the processor. Grate the onion, potatoes, carrot, and celery. <br />
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When complete, empty the processor, place all the grated veggies in a bowl, and switch back to the all-purpose blade. Now put the ground seeds and the grated veggies and all other ingredients in the food processor and let it run for a couple minutes until everything is well blended. <br />
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Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 60 minutes. Let it cool before loosening the edges with a knife and flipping the pan to remove the pate.<br />
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I divided mine into four pieces and froze three. <br />
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Excellent served as an appetizer, on sandwiches, or with cheese and crackers.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-22807666044278507582013-05-23T13:07:00.001-07:002013-05-23T13:20:46.530-07:00Excellent Accidents of Parenting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/011/0/8130198/il_570xN.458306404_falt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/011/0/8130198/il_570xN.458306404_falt.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Roots Drawing by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/150965483/tree-roots-drawing-83x117-a4-digital-art?ref=exp_listing">Enchanted Crayons</a></td></tr>
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All this <a href="http://mightylittleacorns.blogspot.ca/2011/12/quaint-things-in-life.html">living small</a> seems to be paying off. For someone who hasn't really been anywhere in a few years I seem to finally be getting somewhere.<br />
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I have nearly entirely eradicated "Oh my God" and the addictive, incorrect use of "like" from my vernacular.<br />
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I'm starting to get the hang of meal planning and I'm actually sticking it to it. It's been six successful weeks of grocery shopping only once a week (with the occasional extra milk run) and I figure I'm saving nearly $200 a month!<br />
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I won't go so far as to say that I've come to know myself more as the years have passed because I think I was much more of a black and white open book in my youth and I'm glad to say I've only grown in complexity these past few years.<br />
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Sometimes it feels I know myself less as I let go of the emotion-based truths I held so dear and my youthful passions are tempered with rationality. It can feel like I'm diluting my dreams but I know I'm only changing them and leaving some behind. This process can be painful and lead me to wonder the local cemetery pondering the brevity of life but I believe it's a necessary part of growth.<br />
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I also find that I am less swayed by those who impress me but fail to take to the time to get to know me. I must be growing up. Or at least I'm coming to comfortable terms with being in my thirties. I am learning that there is a great deal of terrain you can cover when you stay home. Roots certainly travel farther when you stay in one place; it's just hard to see them growing underground.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-73616203511855364482013-05-16T22:50:00.001-07:002013-05-25T11:48:58.481-07:00This Week's Book<b>All the World</b> by Liz Garton Scanlon & Illustrated by Marla Frazee<br />
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The world of this book is just small enough that you can see from one end to the other, you can recognize many of the same people from page to page, and see where you just were from where you now are. It's like streetview on Google Maps for preschoolers! </div>
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My 3 year old and I both enjoy finding familiar details such as the the tandem bikers, the beach ball left at the pond overnight, the family's red truck as the day carries on in the book. There are no protagonists here just people doing what they do. </div>
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I also appreciate how the text is written into the illustrations. The words fill a cloud or bump along the top of the garden. Their appearance even illustrates the meaning of words: the word "up" is raised and the word "down" is lowered. The font is similarly suitable, straightforward and legible yet whimsical in the way it is sometimes level and other times free flowing.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiS5mQyAlOQwYujhAFQoqynKzxGKGcpEBT709Br_tBe7EATrzx5Q" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiS5mQyAlOQwYujhAFQoqynKzxGKGcpEBT709Br_tBe7EATrzx5Q" /></a>This book reassures both me and my children telling us this world is safe and inviting and exciting and varied and beautiful - exactly the message I want to tell my kids every day about our world. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-25307939623653010602013-04-23T21:06:00.000-07:002014-09-08T22:45:02.687-07:00Evening Rhubarb <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Going out to the garden after the kids are in bed feels like a little get-a-way. I only popped out the other night to pick some rhubarb but it felt like a revelation that, not only was it not dark, but it was lovely outside. Everything is so lush right now, growing and leafing out with incredible haste. In a little more than a few short weeks I'll be able to go out barefoot to pick raspberries after bedtime!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb, lovely rhubarb<a href="http://jessicadoyle.com/">.</a></td></tr>
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I often feel regretful about raising my kids in a confined urban setting. We have a front and back yard and a nearby park and we get out often enough, but it's not how I always imagined I'd raise a family. I thought I'd live a little closer to the edge of the grid if not off it entirely. (Have you read <a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=f-dIPQAACAAJ&dq=wilderness+mother&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KKeSUeSzHcnViwLU4YDQBQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA">Wilderness Mother</a>?) Other days I feel that we can give our kids the perfect balance or urban and rural by getting out of the city often. I'm always looking for ways to make this possible. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clark family took their kids canoeing for 95 days.<br />
Watch their video <a href="http://vimeo.com/59121018">here</a> and see why I find it inspiring.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I suppose my little green postage stamp urban acreage feels expansive enough in the peaceful after dinner stillness. </span>I froze some of the rhubarb I picked and I made this <a href="http://andersonmilitarywife.blogspot.ca/2012/08/its-time-for-rhubarb.html">rhubarb cheesecake</a> with the rest. This recipe is so easy as there's no pre-cooking the rhubarb. I made mine with a graham cracker crust and my kids liked it even though it was made with our city rhubarb.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-41800783020033017252013-04-07T20:17:00.000-07:002013-05-06T12:42:43.229-07:00Does DIY = Domestic Bliss?I have a can-do attitude and believe that homegrown and homemade are almost always best, but am I a DIY-er? Well, er, I make pizza dough and pie crust from scratch - does that count? I make my own Christmas and birthday cards. I plant a veggie garden and rescue plants from back alleys and demolition sites. I make killer compost. I made my own twine trellis for sweet peas and runner beans. I mend but I do not sew. I own a paper cutter and can wield a glue gun but I most certainly do not do this:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what you get when you Google image search "DIY"</td></tr>
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I'm creative sometimes, resourceful often, and keen to improve things always, but modge podge is just not a part of my daily vocab. And yet I feel like a do-it-yourselfer at heart. I want DIY my way to modern-day domestic bliss like so many other mama bloggers!<br />
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Sometimes I see a blog that knocks my socks off and I think, "Wowza. That's crazy beautiful and inspiring and so lovely." And then other times I see an over-the-top wonderful blog and I think, "How does she do it? She has more kids than me. Can someone please explain before I decide to give up on all my creative endeavors?"<br />
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Usually this pit of self despair is followed by a couple days off blogging until I have an uplifting family day full of reaffirming self worth like we did today. We spent the whole day in the nearby fishing village turned tourist hot spot, <a href="http://www.tourismrichmond.com/listings/steveston" target="_blank">Steveston</a>. We visited a massive playground at the local community centre, we walked the boardwalk, had a picnic at the beach, watched the kites, threw rocks in the water - an ever popular pastime from which our boys never seem to tire - and then the sun came out and it was back to the playground for round two! To top it off, we didn't spend a penny more than the fuel it cost to drive there - 20 min each way. Today was a prime example easy, breezy domesticity and summer's yet to come! I think I'll put up another twine trellis soon and blog about the it this time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-80858196623397118612013-03-19T21:21:00.000-07:002013-03-20T11:28:24.069-07:00ABC, Oakley's Three!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I need a new camera. I threw a birthday party for my newly 3 year old recently and I didn't take a single photo. I already regret it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCreWS8luS6ScWV7bhzwmXHDEWGihGSNwzGohR-Ac4CZDsTJlcFm-TDhwxeLsE37hwom6gs0dvV5CKICOtTzmMQaOclBkI8zDBYz2kHdrSyUSUk8D8mUvHk_pSY9mAwQPyVKJb4YEG7M/s1600/90587821-7041-46a2-9d00-7474382234ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCreWS8luS6ScWV7bhzwmXHDEWGihGSNwzGohR-Ac4CZDsTJlcFm-TDhwxeLsE37hwom6gs0dvV5CKICOtTzmMQaOclBkI8zDBYz2kHdrSyUSUk8D8mUvHk_pSY9mAwQPyVKJb4YEG7M/s1600/90587821-7041-46a2-9d00-7474382234ac.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a>If I do say so myself, the party was pretty Pinterist-worthy - for an event held in my proudly "nifty thrifty" home and not involving a professional party planner.<br />
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I used <a href="http://punchbowl.com/">punchbowl.com</a> for the invitations for the second year in a row. Their free offerings are customizable yet user-friendly.<br />
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The party itself was minutely lower key than Oakley's second birthday; 23 people rather than 30. Thank goodness it was sunny and we were able to get out into the backyard at one point. I'm beginning to understand why parents host parties in rented rooms and parks now.<br />
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<a href="http://www.skyiris.com/images/1315625191115-1954013812.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.skyiris.com/images/1315625191115-1954013812.jpeg" height="320" width="400" /></a>I never knew before having a child with an "o" name just how great it would be for him. O's are everywhere. They're circles and zeros and faces and wheels and bagels, not to mention a well-used vowel. My son notices them all the time so I did an alphabet theme. I hung Lisa DeJohn's alphabet animals cards on twine with clothes pins, stuck ABC stickers all over balloons, put ABC bathtub stickers on our bathroom mirror, planted flowers in our entrance way planters and stuck in a couple over sized whirligigs for good measure.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4-P9gzNWfmqWT4dAzkVDXv1VmSB6MyESlK3t7q2iYKD100wHdag" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4-P9gzNWfmqWT4dAzkVDXv1VmSB6MyESlK3t7q2iYKD100wHdag" /></a>I served the essential alphabet pretzels and a plethora of "o" shaped food including pineapple rings, apple chips, rice crackers, olives, carrots, cucumber, and peppers cut in rounds, and Dad's O cookies. We played a couple simple alphabet games and at the end we handed out goody bags with each child's initial on the front and stickers, a bouncy ball, a whirligig, and an ABC book inside. But really, the cute kids - all 12 of 'em - made the party.<br />
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And yes, I admit it. This party - exemplifying my love of typography and words and pattern and food and fun - was a little bit for me. I mean, my son's only three; he loves monster trucks, Lightning McQueen, hockey, Spiderman, tigers, Dora, Diego, AND the letters of the alphabet. I just chose something he likes that I could really get behind! He had a really good time and so did I. Now it all fades into a blurry memory faster than you can say "cheese". Thank goodness Grandma took a couple photos!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmactccR4mA/UUj4lh4xulI/AAAAAAAACNQ/oqljr7g64NA/s1600/IMG_3257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmactccR4mA/UUj4lh4xulI/AAAAAAAACNQ/oqljr7g64NA/s1600/IMG_3257.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made a fresh orange and olive oil bundt cake; we just called it <br />
"o cake". The glaze made it extra delish but it also absorbed <br />
all the decorative powdered sugar!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Er6M4M5AIs/UUj4l1iePmI/AAAAAAAACNU/pFNVTdgEu-w/s1600/IMG_3266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Er6M4M5AIs/UUj4l1iePmI/AAAAAAAACNU/pFNVTdgEu-w/s1600/IMG_3266.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe my boy's really getting into toys now that he's 3 <br />
or maybe the other parents are all super in touch with <br />
what 3 year old's like, but every gift he received has <br />
been a major hit (including the <a href="http://www.stomprocket.com/stomprocketjunior.html" target="_blank">stomp rocket</a> they're <br />
all crowding around here).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-45205260363715495142013-03-16T21:21:00.001-07:002014-09-08T22:46:59.157-07:00Desktop Calendars GaloreI've started downloading free desktop calendars every month to pretty up my office, my mobile office. While I do have a desk I often work on my laptop in other rooms of the house. For instance, I'm currently kneeling on my bedroom floor with my laptop on a cushion on my bed!<br />
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I love print and color but live in <a href="http://mightylittleacorns.blogspot.ca/2012/01/beware-beige.html" target="_blank">this slowly-getting-less-beige house</a> so I take my fun and pretty wallpaper pattern where I can get it! Here's a few that I've used recently and a few I wish I'd used. I found so many I like for March that I switched halfway through the month! Check the links' corresponding sites for future calendars as the year rolls by.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhtZqKTTXF8X50e5ZgEdEand5sk_BTGQd3Y3hT36nDnXRCzEmDyt9_v_7FRO02JjPi4nw4hCWs1ux8HduZmXHhCyRKaI1k6acL8Y14Vx6HXYBuEMfNA_sI7OKBUBwbr04_DDG_EQTyIqd/s640/12.lovemae-DECEMBER2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhtZqKTTXF8X50e5ZgEdEand5sk_BTGQd3Y3hT36nDnXRCzEmDyt9_v_7FRO02JjPi4nw4hCWs1ux8HduZmXHhCyRKaI1k6acL8Y14Vx6HXYBuEMfNA_sI7OKBUBwbr04_DDG_EQTyIqd/s640/12.lovemae-DECEMBER2012.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2012 from <a href="http://blog.lovemae.com.au/search/label/freebies" target="_blank">Love Mae</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wolfeyebrows.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/january2013desktopcalendar1.jpg?w=640&h=397" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://wolfeyebrows.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/january2013desktopcalendar1.jpg?w=640&h=397" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://rebekkamannseale.squarespace.com/?category=Desktop%20Calendars" target="_blank">Rebekka Seale's January calendar</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---iVYn7i5Co/UUFTt8F8m9I/AAAAAAAACMU/Up_5nMcbFnA/s1600/Feb+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---iVYn7i5Co/UUFTt8F8m9I/AAAAAAAACMU/Up_5nMcbFnA/s1600/Feb+2013.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used this for February and I can't find the source <br />
now that I'm looking for it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sashaendoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/March-2013-Birch-Spring-desktop-calendar-2560x1440-409x230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sashaendoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/March-2013-Birch-Spring-desktop-calendar-2560x1440-409x230.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sashaendoh.com/desktop-wallpaper-calendar-march-2013/" target="_blank">Sasha Endoh Design's March</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTemWdRSTh-gY9_0fYp_9EjzuFclwrqhU_ikGrck6r_79HPaQKN00CrhZ1XSb5niBgCKLhIm-HSSuAFo7-qIexnbksSYpYPWaNlcmGjyobm2YCrNRb4fBuIYSwMNhlulyFA7IQyHt59oE/s1600/march-calendar-desktop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTemWdRSTh-gY9_0fYp_9EjzuFclwrqhU_ikGrck6r_79HPaQKN00CrhZ1XSb5niBgCKLhIm-HSSuAFo7-qIexnbksSYpYPWaNlcmGjyobm2YCrNRb4fBuIYSwMNhlulyFA7IQyHt59oE/s1600/march-calendar-desktop.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nicolesclasses.com/march-desktop-wallpaper/" target="_blank">March envelopes</a> by Alma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNegYZkTmivzBDIq0N27UK3LqN1pg2NcPnlMdr7FLMJp5ciK8US0hCgIwCHPA9RIVN3YZxbv7TXw9-qKkTalt9C8ENczwM4py-dro36l75n_WlZMBVeIJudYCUrLfxC83I7Z0VguG7mo/s1600/MarchDesktopCalendar2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNegYZkTmivzBDIq0N27UK3LqN1pg2NcPnlMdr7FLMJp5ciK8US0hCgIwCHPA9RIVN3YZxbv7TXw9-qKkTalt9C8ENczwM4py-dro36l75n_WlZMBVeIJudYCUrLfxC83I7Z0VguG7mo/s1600/MarchDesktopCalendar2013.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogdelanine.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">March from Gennine's Art Blog</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkepIq-8B60UPeFABqhj4-eU2TQcxZJQyLesJWoQcZkeqOqR9s" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkepIq-8B60UPeFABqhj4-eU2TQcxZJQyLesJWoQcZkeqOqR9s" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.alwaysmod.com/2013/02/28/marimekko-desktop-calendar-march-2103/" target="_blank">Marimekko' s March theme</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-88476449919905072142013-03-02T21:00:00.001-08:002013-03-17T13:45:43.212-07:00This Week's Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.granitemedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/raintrain-300x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.granitemedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/raintrain-300x180.jpg" /></a><a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=_k1HtwAACAAJ&dq=rain+train+de+roo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=y4IxUerMGenuiQLTl4HoDQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA" target="_blank">The Rain Train</a> by Elena de Roo</div>
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I seem to have come across a glut of great books lately. Books that look right up my alley at the library but when I get them home and read them to my kids I find myself paraphrasing or rephrasing the text or wishing there was more or less story. Other times as I sift through the shelves at my local branch using my standard critical approach (title, illustrations, amount of text, and subject matter in that order) and I wonder how many of the titles I pick up belong to wonderful stories paired with unappealing illustrations. If that's the case, back to the shelf it goes. I'm only looking for the best and that still amounts to over a dozen books that make it to this week's short list, the ones we sign out and schlep home. The Rain Train is one that I wasn't entirely sold on upon first read (I think the title first sold me on it over the illustrations) but now I just can't seem to cull it and return it I enjoy reading it aloud so much.<br />
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The story is a poem with a lot of great lines. And though I don't recall reading the first page in the library, the opening lines really get me: "When the rain fingers drum out a dance on the pane, / When the windows are foggy enough for my name". And the other set of lines that I savour: "And all of the time / Always the same... / The wail of the wind, / the sway of the train, / The strum of the wheels to the beat of the rain". <br />
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Every page pairs poetic description with often-rhyming, sometimes alliterative onomatopoeia, my favorite being: "Past lighted houses -- / Clackety-clack. / Out of the city -- / Shackety-shack". (I always find myself whispering the onomatopoeic phrases.)<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHolr_S3TUT-fsWtTE_h2zFttxh4ZNwDvHlyEdqD4Wts20Eqgn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHolr_S3TUT-fsWtTE_h2zFttxh4ZNwDvHlyEdqD4Wts20Eqgn" /></a>Now I don't claim to know what a rain train is, but my guess is that it's made-up by a child lying in bed, falling asleep listening to the rain. This train carries him off through the night to dreamland. The passengers are all in pajamas and carry umbrellas and the last page shows a boy asleep in his bed with a train going by outside his window and it reminds me of the late train that I used to hear if I was up late enough when I was young - perfect.<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPvfybGS2mfCUr8KFQpMKzpd5zcIqm4L48WkT2GDLbOit_a3tm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPvfybGS2mfCUr8KFQpMKzpd5zcIqm4L48WkT2GDLbOit_a3tm" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=i6P4ygAACAAJ&dq=beach+feet+saito+wave&hl=en&sa=X&ei=poIxUcDVOczliwLKwICYDA&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA" target="_blank">Beach Feet</a> by Kiyomi Konagaya Illustrated by Masamitsu Saito<br />
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This is the other book I can't part with at library return time. The story and the perfectly imperfect illustrations just keep me reaching for this one over others at storytime. The entire book is about a few lively moments of a child's day at the beach. The first person narrator is easily distracted, nicely representing the short attention span of a real child.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blaine.org/jules/BeachFeet12full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://blaine.org/jules/BeachFeet12full.jpg" width="320" /></a>Emotion, movement, speed, and even temperature are conveyed in the brilliantly messy illustrations of this book. Toes and fingers are shown to be excited, paddling, or wiggling by their numerous outlines as with the hot toes shown above. My favorite drawing is the intentionally imprecise underwater legs (at right); a few scribbles and realistic shimmering water and moving legs are perfectly achieved. Saito doesn't appear to care about colouring in the lines of his own drawings and the oil pastels lend themselves nicely to blurring and smudging. Attractive, effective imperfection is one of the things I like about the art I like - you know how bittersweet chocolate is better than sweet chocolate on its own? A little imperfection goes a long way in terms of poignancy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-29009082810017520822013-02-22T21:01:00.000-08:002013-03-17T13:46:41.624-07:00Spring in my StepThe snowdrops were one thing but now there's crocuses popping up, buds on the forsythia, and the grass only turns brown for two weeks in the summer so it does indeed look a lot like springtime in my neck of the woods.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgNQW1PS0MU/UR8ULEQP3KI/AAAAAAAACIY/ffu-nf14udk/s1600/01252013951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgNQW1PS0MU/UR8ULEQP3KI/AAAAAAAACIY/ffu-nf14udk/s1600/01252013951.jpg" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First visit to our local park in much too long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMVcWZp36EE/UR8ULWLo_wI/AAAAAAAACIc/wV4-ixrqqr8/s1600/02.11.13+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMVcWZp36EE/UR8ULWLo_wI/AAAAAAAACIc/wV4-ixrqqr8/s1600/02.11.13+002.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in Lynn Canyon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YwU5nUhDAQ/UR8ULYtWRYI/AAAAAAAACIg/DkAx_RkrsYQ/s1600/01302013970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="459" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YwU5nUhDAQ/UR8ULYtWRYI/AAAAAAAACIg/DkAx_RkrsYQ/s1600/01302013970.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost got the hang of it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7s6rCZQ-TnfzIdJj4dqwzel0fXl8QtJVGZcQSTHLwLMP1oZj-xa1oHxxJWIA24mNvOEU92-ehg8N4xawRgUQhBTOlQxCJsf8evkg0aV5h-1VuzyIW1CZiopYu3yjf6_lf4XKeiO_tOU/s1600/02.11.13+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7s6rCZQ-TnfzIdJj4dqwzel0fXl8QtJVGZcQSTHLwLMP1oZj-xa1oHxxJWIA24mNvOEU92-ehg8N4xawRgUQhBTOlQxCJsf8evkg0aV5h-1VuzyIW1CZiopYu3yjf6_lf4XKeiO_tOU/s1600/02.11.13+007.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All dressed up...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e_LOtEvflKo/UR8UNoXwaNI/AAAAAAAACI4/cjcHva8KySk/s1600/02.11.13+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e_LOtEvflKo/UR8UNoXwaNI/AAAAAAAACI4/cjcHva8KySk/s1600/02.11.13+028.jpg" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like flinging sand in the sea</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPljspqo5oQ/UR8UNgO4qQI/AAAAAAAACI0/OXFWxaJBbfU/s1600/02022013976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPljspqo5oQ/UR8UNgO4qQI/AAAAAAAACI0/OXFWxaJBbfU/s1600/02022013976.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18 months old</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAHyI4v3_hI/UR8UOC-TX0I/AAAAAAAACJA/k7Lm_koQI-M/s1600/02032013986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAHyI4v3_hI/UR8UOC-TX0I/AAAAAAAACJA/k7Lm_koQI-M/s1600/02032013986.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ferry</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLvjnmLGOX8/UR8UPaBivAI/AAAAAAAACJQ/GSQkB-wR58g/s1600/02072013999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLvjnmLGOX8/UR8UPaBivAI/AAAAAAAACJQ/GSQkB-wR58g/s1600/02072013999.jpg" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet moment in the sun</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-MKt1XoTAo/UR8UPMK_RdI/AAAAAAAACJM/pD1jqBBsjRo/s1600/020720131004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-MKt1XoTAo/UR8UPMK_RdI/AAAAAAAACJM/pD1jqBBsjRo/s1600/020720131004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A-not-so quiet moment in the sun</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-52156157465966570942013-02-02T16:30:00.000-08:002013-02-02T16:30:00.119-08:00It's Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At least over here on the central western edge of the continent Spring is beginning to be tangible! Guess what I spotted in our alley?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops<a href="http://iwillhaveyou.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/">.</a></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-37319213395694210662013-01-31T15:25:00.003-08:002014-09-08T22:40:01.153-07:00TV is Not a Dirty WordLike many people, I have a conflicted relationship with television. I have a fond memory of my dad climbing on the roof to adjust the antenna when I, waiting for The Friendly Giant to come into view, spotted a bear in the orchard. And I recall being quite excited for Sunday night's Disney hour-long specials such as the memorable Flight of the Navigator. I loved MASH and Monty Python for periods of my teen years and then I went without TV for many years, pretty much the entire run of Seinfeld and the first six years of Survivor. I was busy living large with few possessions and even less income; TV was the last thing on my mind.<br />
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It wasn't until I settled in my current city with my now-husband that we got our first TV off craigslist. My parents gave us their old VHS player and we'd rent video tapes from the library. (And yes, I realize just how very out of date that sounds now, eight years later, but imagine how peculiar it will sound to our kids in another eight!)<br />
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With those new-to-us technological advances I watched the entire series of Blackadder. It wasn't the first time I'd seen the show but I fell completely in love with the series and still give it top three ranking today. It was around this time that the current TV comeback was picking up momentum thanks to shows like The Wire and Six Feet Under. These programs were proving that shows could be better than movies, offering more in terms of character development and plot lines.<br />
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Here is a list of the shows I've watched in the past decade that I enjoyed, loosely organized chronologically.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Deadwood</li>
<li>Carnivale</li>
<li>Life</li>
<li>Californication</li>
<li>Mad Men</li>
<li>Breaking Bad</li>
<li>Game of Thrones</li>
<li>Sherlock</li>
<li>Boardwalk Empire</li>
<li>Downton Abbey</li>
<li>Wallander</li>
<li>The Hour</li>
<li>Parade's End</li>
<li>Black Mirror</li>
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You can see I've been on a BBC kick the last while (Thanks Dad).<br />
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Oh, and just for the sake of it: my top three TV shows of all time are Wallander, The Wire, and Blackadder.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-57245861174863497872013-01-23T21:12:00.000-08:002013-01-31T20:25:45.502-08:00This Week's Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=4uEy2o4FCVUC&dq=that's+not+a+daffodil&source=gbs_navlinks_s">That's Not a Daffodil</a> by Elizabeth Honey<br />
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We have read dozens and dozens of books in the past few months but truly, none have made me smile the way this book does. And so it deserves recommendation, a mighty acorn of approval, if you will.<br />
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This sweet book is about a preschool aged boy and his neighbour, a grown-up gardener.<br />
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The weeks, months, and seasons are marked by visits from neighbourly Mr. Yilmaz, who brings homegrown produce to Tom's family with each visit. First apples and an unlikely looking daffodil bulb, and at other times carrots, a pumpkin, and lemons. The passing of time is also marked by visiting grandchildren, a weekend at Grandma's and Mr. Yilmaz's absence when he's away in Turkey.<br />
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There is a peacefulness about this book. It contains just the right details; the reader is left needing no more than we are given but savouring every encounter.<br />
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With the daffodil's growth a trust and friendship also grow between Tom and his neighbour. Mr. Yilmaz's gift turns a skeptical, expectant boy into a clever-metaphor weaving believer. Mr. Yilmaz sits back and lets the magic unfold for Tom, giving the boy an even better gift than a flower: the experience of discovering something first-hand.<br />
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I hope Mr. Yilmaz moves to my block soon!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-63718437320985987972013-01-16T22:10:00.000-08:002013-02-01T23:26:15.359-08:00Excuses, ExcusesI've got a few excuses for not blogging lately. Whether or not they are good excuses I'll leave up to you.<br />
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First of all, my longtime friend, sometimes client, and newly certified massage therapist, Dana Smith, has begun publishing her own blog, <a href="http://anatomyoftouch.blogspot.ca/">The Anatomy of Touch</a>, in which she explores the quirky workings of the human body and the benefits of massage and various other roads to wellness. Her <a href="http://danasmithrmt.blogspot.ca/">website</a> is also hot off the press and these two projects display not only my newly acquired html code-writing skills as well as my editorial consulting skills (much to the detriment of my own blog).<br />
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Then it was Christmas - merry and bright and full of family, toys, treats, a little snow, and a week of <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/sleep/terrors.html">night terrors</a>. (As soon as I learned to handle them, in other words, to not handle my boy as he was going through it, but to simply standby, they disappeared). And then we all got sick (see <a href="http://mightylittleacorns.blogspot.ca/2013/01/season-of-soup.html">previous post</a> for the play by play on that one). So here I am to report, in photographic detail, on these events.<br />
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There's not much left of our snowman now but a few arms, buttons, and hair (sticks, rocks, and ivy).</div>
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The carousel at the Vancouver Christmas Market was a big hit as were the waffles on a stick.</div>
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Bennett's first fishy encounter.</div>
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Our annual visit to the aquarium.</div>
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Playing with his cousin's new Christmas present.</div>
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Grandpa is the best stroller driver: he aims for the icebergs!</div>
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An icy day for a bike ride on the Richmond dyke.</div>
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Hot baths aplenty.</div>
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Midweek in January, Granville Island is essentially a ghost town with buskers.</div>
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Third attempt at ice skating and he's only holding one hand!</div>
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A rainy day hike in Lynn Valley after which we all came down with terrible colds. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-90907310984370691772013-01-15T23:10:00.000-08:002013-01-17T13:20:10.073-08:00Season of The SoupWe've all been there. My family of four has had the displeasure (and discomfort) of having just been there last week. We've been in the land of the sick. Congested, coughing, and sneezing with only soup, lemon n honey's, trucks and trains, and BBC's "Parade's End" to get us through it.<br />
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My soup season began with an old standby, <a href="http://mightylittleacorns.blogspot.ca/2012/02/dinnertime_17.html">Green Soup</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://everybodylikessandwiches.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://everybodylikessandwiches.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/soup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Next I made this pureed cauliflower soup from <a href="http://veganinthefreezer.com/2012/11/cauliflower-soup/">Vegan in the Freezer</a>. Next time I'll try a version where the cauliflower and garlic are roasted for more flavour.<br />
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<a href="http://veganinthefreezer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Cauliflower-Soup-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://veganinthefreezer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Cauliflower-Soup-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Most recently, I made a version of slow cooker "nutrient dense" chicken soup based on this recipe from <a href="http://www.paleoinfused.com/?p=2030">Paleo Infused Nutrition</a> but with more veg and noodles:</div>
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<a href="http://www.paleoinfused.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_1647-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.paleoinfused.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_1647-300x225.jpg" /></a></div>
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And though, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/health/11really.html">according to The NY Times</a>, the data is inconclusive on whether or not one should take in more fluids when suffering from a cold, we've decimated the tea cupboard and burned through honey, lemons, and ginger. </div>
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The aforementioned trucks and trains (most of which were new additions at Christmas) have been a source of entertainment for our boys during these days of runny noses and ugly weather. The back edge of our sectional sofa has never seen so much traffic and the coffee table has been transformed into a bustling train station whose hours of operation perfectly coincide with the boys' bedtime. </div>
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Today, we are officially over the worst of it and I have the best intentions for tomorrow. We will be out of pajamas by 8:30am and I plan to venture out into public after my husband heads back to work. The only downside of our recovery is that along with our tea supply we've also plowed through all five remarkable episodes of the BBC's "Parade's End". A return to regular life would seem dreary after our evenings spent in Ford Maddox Ford's parade if we weren't so thankful to have our nasal passages back in working order. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-11701656723300909402012-11-15T20:41:00.000-08:002013-04-04T21:07:06.536-07:00All I Want for Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://img3.etsystatic.com/006/0/6301173/il_570xN.352495499_abwi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/006/0/6301173/il_570xN.352495499_abwi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6301173/il_570xN.336481329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6301173/il_570xN.336481329.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/6301173/il_570xN.334398340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/6301173/il_570xN.334398340.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
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A waterproof picnic blanket in a bold and/or retro pattern like these from Portland's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoBa?ref=seller_info">PoBa</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR0FIWFa-6Wl5CagBfTlpZgDPvzg0HvskYvlxzTujPWT4TzXyf15Q" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR0FIWFa-6Wl5CagBfTlpZgDPvzg0HvskYvlxzTujPWT4TzXyf15Q" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A gift certificate to any upstanding stationery store such as <a href="http://www.assemblyoftext.com/">The Regional Assembly of Text</a> or <a href="http://buchanst.com/">Buchan's</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs03_201111_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs03_201111_medium.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs09_201010_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs09_201010_medium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs14_201111_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs14_201111_medium.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs15_201111_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.dahlhausart.com/img/products/img_06mugs15_201111_medium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I'll take any number and any combination of these mugs from <a href="http://www.dahlhausart.com/ceramics.php">Dahlhaus Ceramics</a>. I have never coveted pottery like this before; it makes my heart ache. Available at <a href="http://www.shinyfuzzymuddy.com/">Shiny Fuzzy Muddy</a> Dec 8 & 9 at Heritage Hall on Main St.</div>
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<a href="http://www.victorygardensvancouver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/About.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://www.victorygardensvancouver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/About.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A gift certificate with <a href="http://www.victorygardensvancouver.ca/">Victory Gardens</a> to help me spend the $100 I need to get a free consultation to better plan and expedite my garden next spring.</div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTX14dBvbsp706VkSonA_sHQJu-CBsLYWCMfe7C8AYB1sSse8VX" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTX14dBvbsp706VkSonA_sHQJu-CBsLYWCMfe7C8AYB1sSse8VX" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTSdXb40IQ65vaViH7ZS3KIPGgZ3jHZ-Heplh6ujTySlE8TFNPp4g" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTSdXb40IQ65vaViH7ZS3KIPGgZ3jHZ-Heplh6ujTySlE8TFNPp4g" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6HzWBERC2QI3Ne09gTKyr3EUNh80hGFF3r4mtccRj5awMJ9ny" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6HzWBERC2QI3Ne09gTKyr3EUNh80hGFF3r4mtccRj5awMJ9ny" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
A gift certificate to any of these Vancouver restaurants that I've been wanting to visit: <a href="http://wildebeest.ca/">Wildebeest</a>, <a href="http://www.theacornrestaurant.ca/">The Acorn</a>, or <a href="http://fray.me/">Fray</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.royascarpetcleaning.com/images/protoflow/4_Upholstery_Cleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://www.royascarpetcleaning.com/images/protoflow/4_Upholstery_Cleaning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A gift certificate towards having my couch cleaned by <a href="http://www.royascarpetcleaning.com/carpet-cleaning-burnaby.htm">Roya's Carpet Care</a> because they have the best reviews on Yelp and decent prices, they use eco-friendly products, and I want my once-beige couch to look as pristine as the one in the picture on their website (see above). Baby drool begone!<br />
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OR:</div>
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Tickets to a show of any kind (concert, ballet, theatre, etc)</div>
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Pedicure gift certificate</div>
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Books on local history<br />
Smartwool socks</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-91011298946981307192012-10-27T16:14:00.002-07:002012-10-27T16:15:17.710-07:00A Pumpkin Walked into a Barber Shop...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/a242f37217cd11e2a77f22000a1d0106_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/a242f37217cd11e2a77f22000a1d0106_6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-17691076811341063622012-10-24T22:46:00.000-07:002014-09-08T22:57:11.323-07:00Blog O'clock<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy-love.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/sadieolive.etsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.etsy-love.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/sadieolive.etsy.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found these lovelyvintage clocks<br />
over at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sadieolive" target="_blank">Sadie Olive's Etsy shop</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's blog o'clock. That is, it's 10:30pm and I've been sitting at this computer for nearly three hours since I put the boys to bed. I've got a rare night to myself and I fully intended (in fact, looked forward) to creative time tonight. However, my desire to think big and grow a business and stay in the loop and maintain my marketable skills pressured me into working instead.<br />
<br />
Working for <a href="http://sierradante.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Edgewise</a> that is. It's writing, it's editing, it's Facebook, it's Twitter, it's looking at dozens of fabulous artists' websites - I'm working on a press release for <a href="http://www.shinyfuzzymuddy.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Shiny Fuzzy Muddy</a>. It's working for myself. And yes, I'm really trying to complain here.<br />
<br />
It's just that I was beginning to think that I might be able to free up my evenings for my creative endeavors and maybe even read one of the many books piled on my bedside table. I haven't even gotten halfway through my much anticipated copy of Stephen Fry's "<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=_WxhaCrAc6gC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+ode+less+travelled&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CdSIUJ3LGM_2iQKjyoDoDA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA" target="_blank">The Ode Less Traveled</a>" and it's nearly time to return it to the library; the same goes for "<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=mKAlQwAACAAJ&dq=vancouver+stories+of+a+city&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GNeIUMeLCY7sigKHqYCACw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA" target="_blank">Vancouver: Stories of a City</a>". Fortunately I own "<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=OL0JAQAAIAAJ&q=vancouver%27s+first+century&dq=vancouver%27s+first+century&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SteIUM-zK6iziQKXzIHgBg&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA" target="_blank">Vancouver's First Century</a>", though I'm not even a third of the way into that one - the introduction was such a pleasantly intricate and entertaining surprise that I think I'll have to go back and start over, when I have time of course.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8BtNsRwTcvxJmAPYtJnKxrh7nvP6Y_CLZOLGGVTtA6JRt_4w8yg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8BtNsRwTcvxJmAPYtJnKxrh7nvP6Y_CLZOLGGVTtA6JRt_4w8yg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bedside milieu is not<br />
quite so serene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then there are the two parenting books that are getting dusty and really should be returned to their shelf. Maybe I'll have a chance to read up on <a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=K1ZwPwAACAAJ&dq=sears+discipline+book&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ttmIULm_KaztiQLm8oD4Bg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA" target="_blank">Dr. Sears' take on disciplining</a> a preschooler and "<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=kjWcn4T6HJcC&dq=what+to+expect+years&hl=en&sa=X&ei=h9eIUJXZGaf1igKFmYCIDg&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAg" target="_blank">What to Expect the Toddler Years</a>" once my boys are in school.<br />
<br />
That - right there at the end of the last sentence - was a completely ridiculous but rather representative thought not unlike others I have daily about all the wonderful things I'll do once the boys start school. It's only three or four years away (IF we don't have more kids)! Now rationally I know this is akin to all the wonderful things I was going to do on mat leave - other than take care of one teeny tiny baby and his or her teeny tiny needs - but the thoughts still occur.<br />
<br />
Back to the bedside table. There are also a few food magazines kicking around, literally. The toddler knocked them off the table yesterday and they've been on the floor since; I keep writing 'meal planning' on my to do list and I keep just scraping by with one idea a day. I really do have the best intentions as the magazines on the floor can attest to.<br />
<br />
Getting back to how I am able to afford to work - if you don't have young children that statement may seem like an oxymoron, but I assure you time is not money, it's much more valuable than money (though there isn't enough of either as far as I'm concerned). I can afford six hours a week to tentatively dip my toe in the lake of non-familial (aka: paid) childcare. I'm giving the granny nanny a brief respite, or at least I'm not solely relying on her, while testing out the world of the nanny share two mornings a week.<br />
<br />
In theory, the goals that these six hours of childcare a week are going to allow me are to further my business, find a mentor, blog more, and possibly even plan more than one meal at a time. I'll keep you posted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTf8WgBbkcUYzlHkfEM3on52uoMfkhekJj26VirxqzLJG8dGDaDQQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTf8WgBbkcUYzlHkfEM3on52uoMfkhekJj26VirxqzLJG8dGDaDQQ" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A house without books is like a room<br />
without windows" Heinrich Mann</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-1560334978215972172012-10-19T21:24:00.000-07:002013-02-01T23:34:49.931-08:00I Love Me a Good Bedtime Routine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://favim.com/orig/201104/14/Favim.com-17861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://favim.com/orig/201104/14/Favim.com-17861.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A consistent bedtime routine can make or break a vacation, settle a late night or a rushed bedtime, and generally make the day to night transition smoother. A routine gives a sense of familiarity and comfort and it can be taken and used anywhere - on a road trip where the kids are strapped into car seats in the back seat at bedtime, on an airplane with children on your lap and strangers all around who are hyper sensitive to sound, or in a foreign hotel room or distant relatives' guest room. I've taken to memorizing my favorite rhymes and songs so that I don't even need light or books to read so long as I am within earshot.<br />
<br />
When I sing to my kids at bedtime I tend to always fall back on the same old songs. There's the predictable and wonderful "May There Always be Sunshine", (we fill in the names of the people in our family or who we saw that day). There's the somewhat unlikely "Brokedown Palace" by the Grateful Dead; it's pretty cute to hear a two year old sing "listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul"! And then there's the unlikely two verses of the hymn "How Great Thou Art"; it's a long story, suffice it to say it's a fond memory thing.<br />
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There have been some new additions to my repertoire since attending baby time at the library for two years straight. I've appropriated the short but sweet ditties that can be repeated as much or as little as the situation requires. You know how it is; sometimes you need a short little four-liner to get your toddler through book closed, light off, and into bed so you can get out the door and other times you need something simple enough that you can repeat it until your wakeful baby returns to slumber while you're still half asleep yourself.<br />
<br />
Sailing, sailing over the ocean<br />
Sailing, sailing over the sea<br />
Sailing, sailing over the water<br />
Sail back home to me.<br />
<br />
Tall trees, warm fire,<br />
strong wind, rushing water.<br />
I feel it in my body.<br />
I feel it in my soul.<br />
<br />
Do do mon petit<br />
Do do mon petit<br />
Do do mon petit<br />
Et bonne nuit, et bonne nuit.<br />
<br />
Some nights I just can't bring about a singing voice and so I've started memorizing stories. So far I've committed to memory "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown - who hasn't? "The Big Red Barn" by the same author, "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" by Eugene Field, a dozen R L Stevenson poems (which I adore), more than a dozen traditional sleepy time rhymes from anonymous sources, and one beloved poem by Shirley Hughes titled "Alfie Weather" but which I call "Benny Weather."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlRfe5rMcq4ZyWpxotfk8sIt9KQfIsck0CbAfWpFr2KSBezVLi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlRfe5rMcq4ZyWpxotfk8sIt9KQfIsck0CbAfWpFr2KSBezVLi" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're not already acquainted with Shirley <br />
Hughes and Alfie get yourself to the children's <br />
section of the nearest library!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alfie Weather<br />
<br />
Whether the weather is sunny<br />
Or whether it's drenching with rain -<br />
A river along the garden path,<br />
A sea of mud in the lane;<br />
Any old weather is Alfie weather,<br />
He doesn't really mind,<br />
Even the sort that nips his toes<br />
Or the steamed-up-windows kind.<br />
Sooner or later the clouds will set sail -<br />
Maybe after tea...<br />
Sooner or later the sun will come out,<br />
And so will he.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-68512257910311515422012-10-14T22:04:00.000-07:002012-10-25T11:52:21.672-07:00Working for the 'Hood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a whole lot better than working for the man and there are decent perks too. Since moving to my current neighbourhood and staying home full-time with my two kids I haven't been able to get involved enough in the local goings-on. I like to feel like I'm making a difference and being active on a super local level lets me see the change my efforts make; it's more gratifying than vacuuming! I've also really honed my clip art skills as you can see below.</div>
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Here's a sample of a few of the projects I've help organize.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-48805974592956774462012-10-10T09:47:00.000-07:002012-10-10T20:39:39.427-07:00Right Back at Ya'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks to Lisa over at <a href="http://thesprog.blogspot.ca/2012/10/list-46-ten-compliments.html" target="_blank">The Sprog</a> for naming me and my Mighty Little Acorns in her List of 10 Compliments to her bloggy buddies. It's good to be appreciated!<br />
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If you haven't checked out The Sprog (and my listmates) I'm sure you will enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-18494071423980513392012-10-08T21:33:00.000-07:002012-10-25T13:42:04.094-07:00This Week's Books<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=v0eBRcVRmDIC&dq=the+stars+will+still+shine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l7tCT9LbEsKjiQL_mZ2YAQ&redir_esc=y">The Stars Will Still Shine</a> by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This new year the sky will still be there..."</td></tr>
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Here is another book that reads like a poem and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Rylant has a talent for unassuming language that packs a sentimental punch. This book reminds us of the big picture through small details. It is at once hopeful and reassuring making it a great nighttime read.<br />
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The illustrations portray the highlights of a childhood year as an adult might remember them: beach days with ice cream cones, reading curled up on a couch next to the fireplace, swinging on a swing in a tree, eating peaches and making pies. Along with these happy times there may be darker times, but the author assures us that in grey, winter cities there can be colorful flowers, even dark nights have light, and despite obstacles in our lives the "sky will still be there / there stars will still shine / birds will fly over us / church bells will chime".<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCIJSk05itQ/T0K281DNugI/AAAAAAAAByk/EJoB38Muc1c/s1600/20.01.12+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCIJSk05itQ/T0K281DNugI/AAAAAAAAByk/EJoB38Muc1c/s320/20.01.12+028.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=nlo7PwAACAAJ&dq=when+i+was+young+in+the+mountains&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2LtCT9eEL4eiiQK-s5GoAQ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA">When I Was Young in the Mountains</a> by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Diane Goode<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1lnZTvJBUQImzi8G6isf2IBiNtK4eQ2WQatzqs8XQ2_DVmGKtG2Z21Q5wusA2nlzc_lYxslq008ZAVwptVs3MxhnbngAg3ZNgDLKtOKHWox_aAGYMRKO1yicE-JXV00pOs0lzwmBWklP/s1600/000_4364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1lnZTvJBUQImzi8G6isf2IBiNtK4eQ2WQatzqs8XQ2_DVmGKtG2Z21Q5wusA2nlzc_lYxslq008ZAVwptVs3MxhnbngAg3ZNgDLKtOKHWox_aAGYMRKO1yicE-JXV00pOs0lzwmBWklP/s320/000_4364.jpg" width="240" /></a>This biographical story about the author's childhood in rural Appalachia was a favorite of mine as a child. My mom always called me a "mountain girl" when I was young in the mountains. I still identify with that part of me despite having lived in the city for the past seven years. I can't help but feel that this is only a temporary home and that if I stay here too long I will disappoint a part of myself and possibly my parents who chose to bring me up in a rural area.<br />
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As a girl it was clear to me that this story took place a little earlier in time and a little ways away in distance, but nonetheless, I could relate to shelling peas from the garden, warming up by the wood stove, drinking hot cocoa, and reveling in the still evening air of the mountains.<br />
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It concerns me that my kids won't relate to this book as I did, not being raised in a small town in the mountains. On the flipside, I imagine they will find themselves in other books that will make an impression deep enough they'll remember a few of the words and illustrations when they're adults living far from home.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-82733894697399966512012-10-05T19:49:00.001-07:002012-10-06T14:12:37.952-07:00How to Look Lovely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-48501533449936992632012-09-30T21:37:00.002-07:002013-04-13T14:21:04.565-07:00My Local Orchard<div>
I never would have guessed how much local fruit I'd be eating living in my central city location. This August I picked, ate, shared, baked, and froze a bowl of superb yellow plums, a handful of Italian prune plums, a couple buckets of blackberries, three colanders heaped with red Santa Rosa plums, 150 apples, and at least two dozen bunches of the best green grapes I've ever eaten - and all grown within one square block of my house! </div>
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In our backyard we have two apple trees. Last year we had two dozen apples from the big tree and maybe two edible ones from the small tree. We pruned the trees last fall and this summer we got 100 apples off the big one and 50 off the small one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doin' it homesteader style</td></tr>
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We ate and baked with the gorgeous 100 apples from the big tree but, other than giving the somewhat scabby little apples to my younger son for teething toys, I figured sauce was the solution. I was able to borrow from a neighbour (who's also a friend) an apple saucer (well, that's what I call it). She had it from her mother (who's also a neighbour) who used to use it in her homesteading days. </div>
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I covered the apples in water, brought them to a boil, simmered them until the flesh was soft and the peels cracked, then tossed them in the apple saucer and sauced 'em. I added back in half the cooking water to lengthen the sauce (and not waste that pink gold - yes, the apple cooking water was a lovely pink lemonade color) and my boys ate it up right away. I got two mason jars out of two dozen of the worst apples and I feel right pleased about it!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last meal ever eaten out of that tea cup; <br />
he broke it on his way to the dishwasher.<br />
Fortunately, no apple sauce was harmed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apples, sauce, and a prime example of<br />
applesauce coma after two helpings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dtdhM2gHcM/UGkYAFBLYbI/AAAAAAAAB2I/lhS4DA7pfLk/s1600/09282012609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dtdhM2gHcM/UGkYAFBLYbI/AAAAAAAAB2I/lhS4DA7pfLk/s400/09282012609.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently our wall color is a dead ringer for homemade applesauce.<br />
Put that on your paint chip Benjamin Moore!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181358931112591903.post-44139343287900475792012-09-21T21:05:00.001-07:002014-09-08T22:53:31.351-07:00Family Mathematics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj1n94QACXiBqoQzgV10p2kyTN0KkjyxJKCwRtP_vPYlpy5caLRCByHN9QGiX20qTw7s4ldbLuswJ1UcoEwJ-mccZFAowne1kqmMmtgxlTMbrhSs54HX01aTObrsfrswikPh4jt9wqKA/s1600/1-1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj1n94QACXiBqoQzgV10p2kyTN0KkjyxJKCwRtP_vPYlpy5caLRCByHN9QGiX20qTw7s4ldbLuswJ1UcoEwJ-mccZFAowne1kqmMmtgxlTMbrhSs54HX01aTObrsfrswikPh4jt9wqKA/s320/1-1-3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband and I knew we wanted </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more than one child before we'd had our first. (Heck, I knew I wanted more than one child before I had a husband!) We didn't exactly anticipate having another quite as soon as we did; some loving friends with a child the same age as our first told us that we were crazy when we announced the second pregnancy. In truth, it wasn't a mental condition but an illness of the heart; we'd been bitten by the love bug. Our 7 month old was sleeping through the night, was a good eater, had never had a fever nor a diaper rash, and the unpredictable early days were quickly becoming a distant memory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now as a mother of two tots I find myself having an internal daily debate about whether or not we should have a third. The overwhelming argument for is the simple equation that another child equals more love. There was a time when I wondered how I could ever love another as much as my first, but the most mind-blowing part of parenting is that one's capacity for love grows with each child. And then there is that child's potential love to both put into the world and to draw out of others which perpetually raises the world love-o-meter too. It may sound hokey, but, honestly, what's wrong with more love? (Well, besides the increased work and stress and money and landfill space it takes to raise that little love machine.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our #2 has rather seamlessly fit into our family. It helps that so much of the world is set up for foursomes: cars, dinner tables, board games, roller coasters - not that we've taken him on any amusement park rides as of yet. In my experience, the second baby is easier simply because I'm more relaxed; I hardly check in with parenting books and have visited the doctor for check-ups less often too. The second learns to "deal" as the firstborn sometimes takes precedence (i.e.: when the older one is about to run into oncoming traffic the younger one might just have to cry while safely buckled into the stroller parked with the brake on well out of harm's way). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, we already had all the baby paraphernalia, all we had to get was a second car seat and a double stroller (see previous post). Personally, I don't miss alcohol much as I never got back into the habit after the first, so I kind of forget what I'm missing now that it's more than three years on the wagon. And, let's face it, breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding and cuddling experience and the cuddles are a top reason to do it all over again. </span><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511JW9F13CL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511JW9F13CL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the downside, getting a family of four out the door, to the dinner table, or into bed takes more time, though at least with two kids there is still a parent to wrangle each child. Also, with each subsequent baby, there is the fear (and the fact) of losing further touch with the working world and one's career and personal aspirations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One mom friend of mine recently returned to her job after her second maternity leave ended and she found work to be a welcome change of pace. She said it was a luxury to be able to focus on something without being disturbed by persistent whining... for the first week. Soon her decent job became "same old" all over again. As for myself, as someone who decided not to return to the ol' 9-5 and is choosing to keep my kids at home and out of daycare for a little while longer than mat leave allows, I try to keep one or two toes in the working world so that I don't end up with a big gap on my resume. Despite knowing the truth of it, "stay at home mom" just doesn't cut it when explaining what you did for those "unemployed" years. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hubby and I are in agreement not only about our kids not going to daycare right away but also about the benefit of siblings. We each value our sibling relationships so much that we couldn't deprive our kids of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> When all is said and done, the truly unpredictable baby days (the first 3 or 5 months of a wee one's life) are challenging because of the lack of sleep and readjusting to it all, but I honestly believe that if I had five kids or nine it would be the same: I would make it work. I figure I will not ever regret having another but I might actually regret not having one if I don't.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4