life

Thank you all so, so much for your sweet comments. You guys are great. I saw a few from new-to-me people - thanks for stopping by! It's nice to 'meet' you. And you regulars know that I love you.

I need to round up some addresses from some of you to send out the gull decals, and as I don't yet have all of the addresses or enough envelopes (oops) they haven't been sent out yet. I think that this is the first time I've sat down at our home computer for more than three seconds since the giveaway post. Life has been positively nutty. I love being able to check in quickly on my phone, but there are some things I much prefer the 'real' computer for. I am way behind on blog reading (which I miss - it's my little pick-me-up in a lot of ways) and there's a pile on the desk that seems to be growing as I type. I had both boys all day today while Adam's been shooting a wedding. Most of the day was fine, and I actually got a lot of cooking and baking done while they played and helped, but this evening I wanted to leave them and their yelling and uncooperativeness at bedtime and go far, far away. Of course, I didn't, and now that they're finally asleep, all is well again. But, man. What do you do with a defiant 5 year old? When none of the gentle strategies that should work, do? And a two year old who thinks it's funny to go near the woodstove when there's a fire burning? I'm feeling tired and spent after an insane September. I think I need a bit of time to regroup and settle in to October, which I'm hoping will be much calmer in every way.

I've had a few conversations lately with colleagues in similar situations to mine (married, two young children, working full-time) lately about how people make life work for them. I love reading posts like that, and it really seems like something that resonates with people. I think that everyone is secretly looking for a magic answer, and of course, there isn't one. A lot of intentional thinking and planning and hard work and recognizing what will work for you, to start with. Tonight, though, I'm feeling tired even thinking about it.

We'll all be together tomorrow, though, and I'm hoping that we'll get outside between rain showers. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

7

This week, back in 2005 (!) I started this blog. It was under a different name, but the content has always been much the same - a bit of this, a bit of that, pictures, and snippets of my daily life. In short, exactly the kind of blog that I like to read. It's always been something that I do for fun, when I take time, with no pressures of having to post certain things at certain times. I have no aspirations for zillions of followers, no plans of quitting my day job - I think it's still just how I like it.

But this, folks, is what I want to (literally) share with you today. On the walls of our stairwell, we've had a variety of decorative things which have been repeatedly knocked off or broken. I wanted a little something to add some interest, without posing a hazard or temptation. I ordered a *giant* sheet of seagull decals in grey, and put some of them up, which I'm enjoying. I'm hoping that the sense that they might get pooped on will make the boys hurry up the stairs for baths. (Not so far.)

To the point - I only used a very few of the decals from the sheet that I ordered, and I have 10 others that didn't make the cut. On this, my 7th blogging anniversary, I want to send them flying out to you! The first ten commenters, teling me something you love about my blog and / or that you might like to read more about here (no guarantees I'll do it - no pressure, remember?) will receive a decal in the mail. If you see that your comment is one of the first 10, e-mail me your name and mailing address (grahamsherrieATyahooDOTca) and I'll do my best to get those out this week. If your comment is after #10; you might still get a decal if I can't get someone else's information. And I *love* reading comments!

Thank you so much for reading along. I'm so happy that I've had the chance to 'meet' you, and I wish you could all come over for tea. With biscuits and jam. And lots of butter.

not much is new (even the picture is old)

Adam made these little turnovers ages ago, and the picture has been sitting on my desktop, waiting to be posted. I just couldn't delete it - they're so cute. And delicious. It was a raspberry jam filling, if I'm not mistaken. Mmmmm.

I guess I don't have a whole lot to say tonight - I just missed you.

I have been so very, very busy with work (I'm an itinerant teacher of students who are visually impaired, in case you didn't know) these past few weeks. It's good; I enjoy it and love this time of year in many ways, but I just don't have enough hours in the day, you know? (Of course you do.) Late nights don't suit me for very long, and I've driven over 1000km in three days. (That is definitely out of the ordinary. But it explains the crick in my neck.) I'm pooped.

I also said that I would do a presentation (en français!) about our organization for an Education program class at a university which was a great challenge (the first one was this morning; another tomorrow) and ate up a lot of time and mental energy. I think I'm ready for tomorrow, and will definitely sleep well tonight.

I hope that you do, too. 

Oh, and if you want to make similar turnovers, just make a batch of this super simple pie crust recipe, roll out and cut into rounds, fill with a bit of jam or fruit, and bake at 400 for 15 minutes or so, until they're golden. They may ooze, so parchment paper underneath is a good plan. They're a nice treat to tuck into a lunch box, too.

"How old are you?" "I'm two!"

Thomas' reply when anyone asks his name is "I'm two!"

Two is squeezy neck hugs, sloppy kisses, and "Pick me up! Pick me up! I want to see!"

Two is chubby little hands pulling books off of shelves, pushing the just-folded laundry onto the floor, and tearing pages of books.

Two is wanting to help with everything.

Two is sleeping soundly after a hard day of asking "why? why? why?" and getting covered in food and dirt.

Two is dumping any container with anything in it out all over the floor.

And using any long, easily held object as a bat.

This sweet two year old is a delight and joy. And he drives me crazy sometimes. I get over it pretty quickly though. How could you not, looking at a face like that?

*I've been having a bit of trouble composing posts lately with Blogger. Anyone else have things crazily jumping around, several drafts saving of a post for no apparent reason, and pictures going craaaaazy, or is it just me? And this text wouldn't left align. Sorry if this posted a few times in your feed or if it looks strange; I really don't know what's going on. It also published without me telling it to last night before I gave up. Bizarre.*