Thursday, June 30, 2011

At Long Last A Launch

In a twenty mile radius from our house there are three yacht clubs serving a population of 100,000. That's one club per 33,333 residents and probably some sort of notable North American ratio. 

Somehow though it still took us two months and what felt like hundreds of phone calls to get our little boat in the water. One club had lift facilities (to get the boat in), no permanent spaces and expensive day-to-day rates. The second also had lift facilities and no permanent spaces but more affordable daily spaces. Or they thought they had some daily spaces but it turned out on the day we planned to launch that they only had waiting lists for daily spaces. The third club had a space - a permanent space - but no lift facilities so no way to get our boat to the space. In the end we had to join two clubs, one with the permanent space and one to get The Indy put in the water. 

So often I felt like I was asking people for a favour and had to be on my very best behaviour, holding my breath and hoping that they'd hear my case and take pity. This is despite the fact that we were trying to hand them a whole bunch of money. Near the end, Rob took to reminding me to be nice and to be patient and I took to reminding him that I am nice and patient except when it comes to paying a whole bunch of money in exchange for meh service from people who don't seem to know what they are talking about. 

Disclaimer: I completely get the ridiculousness of complaining about which yacht club you'll dock your sailboat at.


Not ours, but placed in such a pretty way against the sea and sky.


Heave ho.


The maiden voyage from the Northern Yacht Club to the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club. The Royal is only three blocks from where we live almost making these last few months of incredulity worthwhile.  

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Emperor's New Groove

Yesterday as we sat watching sailboats on the docks it struck me how much we needed this, to be three together and to be doing nothing. 

Two weeks ago Rob started a new job: he loves it, we love it and we especially love that he loves it. But after a year of him coming home and scooping up Frances at one in the afternoon, this new job’s new schedule – where he heads out the door at one – has taken (and is still taking) some getting used to. Technically there are still twenty-four hours in a day and he’s still at work for the same number of them, but it feels somehow like we see him a lot less. 

As the weeks go by I know we’ll perfect our new groove and find ways for everyone to get done what they need to do. More importantly though we’ll find new ways for everyone to do nothing. We'll track down more minutes and hours in our days and weeks to go for walks and watch boats and drive out to the sea. You know, just to make sure its still there. 

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Oh Mr. Sun


Slip sliding away


Pigeon whisperer


Other pretty sites: room with a view


Other pretty sites: big, blue and unmarked

Dear Mr. Sun,
Thanks for the visit. 
Hope to see you again soon.
xoxo
Cape Breton Island

Friday, June 24, 2011

Bath Plus Nap

Plus learning how the blinds work:


Equals wide eyed wild haired baby


Holy moses the hair!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Heart Shaped Puddle

Somedays before we leave the house we change clothes three times. Me because Frances loves to wipe her little mouth on my shoulder or pant leg if the shoulder isn't accessible and her because eating when you're one is a head to toe and behind the ears affair. With each change I have a little less gusto (caffeine slowly wearing off) to pour into choosing outfits. For her, by round three, if its weather-appropriate it usually works. 

But then somedays this - a sweet little outfit that stays clean and stays on and melts your heart into a wee heart shaped puddle on the floor:


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Just Wait

Yesterday we went to a new play group. There were some familiar faces and some new ones; quite a few older kiddos compared to the day we normally drop in. This play group also had a snack time. When the treats were served all the littles diligently washed their hands and pulled a tiny chair up to a tiny table. I briefly envisioned our part in snack time unfolding as snack times usually do in our house - with Frances spitting out and then squishing everything offered topped off with an attempt to climb on the table. But none of this happened. Instead she sat properly at the small table and wanted to eat whatever the bigger girls at the table were eating. When they ate their cheese she ate her cheese. When they ate their watermelon she ate her watermelon. I was so incredibly proud of her. And felt too like I'd had a little glimpse into just how fine she would be when the time came for day care and back to work.         

Up until these last few weeks I often found myself thinking: I can't wait until she sits up, I can't wait until she walks, I can't wait until she talks and so on and so (impatiently) on. And no wonder - there are very few things that can rival the down-to-your-toes happiness that comes with seeing your babe learn how to clap or crawl. It is so very big and all consuming. But now. Now that time is moving twice as fast and she is changing everyday there is a new voice in my head that says just wait.

Just wait she will learn to talk. Just wait she will learn to feed herself. Don't rush. Just wait. It will come. She will learn to feed the ducks and slide down the slide. She will learn to play with other little ones and to play in the huge expanse of her imagination She will learn everything and then some. Just wait and watch and don't wish for a single thing that isn't right now. 

Welcome wise little whispery voice. You have come to the right place. 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Saturday's Sunny Girl


Thirty-One for Thirty-One: Two

This was a great birthday. The greatest. The rain stopped, the clouds parted and Frances slept until 4:50am. Twenty minutes later than usual giving me hope that she might someday sleep until the sun is up. And in addition to lobster and cake (mmm) this birthday meant taking some time to catch up with my thirty-one for thirty-one. Highlights courtesy of my sneaky two and a half month head start:

1. Switch from morning coffee to morning green tea: Probably still going to happen … as soon as Frances comes around to 4:30am not being a good time to greet the day. 

2. Read six books: I’m almost done the first – Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children (yes, I totally started it three months ago) – and can’t wait to share its chocked-full-of-awesomeness. I’m thinking of Gone with the Wind next. I can’t believe I’ve never read it - then again neither our library nor our local used book store carry it, so maybe not that surprising after all. 

3. Grow and freeze enough herbs to last until next spring: Beautiful little raised bed built (courtesy of my talented talented love) and herbs (courtesy of grandma and grandpa) planted: basil, oregano, cilantro, tarragon, spearmint, marjoram, chives and lemon balm. I've been reading about freezing these gorgeous greens in ice cube containers (to preserve the most freshness) and can't wait to give it a try in the fall. Now just to wait for the sun to come out. Hello? Sun? Hello?



5. Go to yoga regularly: One of the biggest changes for me from pre-Frances to Frances is having to choose just one or two of many things to fill my now super limited free time. Gone for now are the lazy weekday evenings of yoga and running and pottery and knitting. If I can run for half an hour three times a week we are rocking it. The more I thought about going to yoga the more I realized how much I'd rather spend that time running. Maybe someday I'll be able to do both but for now running brings all the zen and relaxation I need.

So I'm thinking of switching this one. Is that allowed? Yes. Okay. Number five will now be Go apple picking.  See you in a few months yummy fresh apples. 

6. Complete three knitting projects: baby winter hat, baby winter scarf and mamma winter leg warmers: Definitely also more of a crisp fall day sport so this one will probably wait until then. I have to be really ready to commit to the baby knitting projects since she keeps outgrowing what I start before I can finish. 

7. Make one new vegetarian meal every week: Kind of slacking. I've made two really great vegetarian meals since first posting this, chick pea burgers and potato and swiss chard quesadillas. Even though they were be-still-my-beating-taste-buds delicious, I'm still feeling a bit daunted about devising/finding/trying fifty more table worthy dishes. No time like the present though.

13. Keep the bird feeders in the back and front yards full all year: This was off to a great start. Then a woman in Halifax contracted meningitis from pigeon poop. When we fill our feeders we get lots (lots) of pigeons. And their poop all over the balcony and the backyard or everywhere that Frances walks, crawls and plays when she's outside. For now the feeders are on decor duty only. They'll definitely be back this winter, maybe earlier if someone (like a pigeon inspector I guess) gives east coat pigeons the all clear. 

14. Make no more than one online purchase per month: Only one in the last two and a half months. So I get three in July right?  

16. Publish The Turnip every two months. Check. April and May each got an issue and July is almost ready for the printers. 

21. Keep this blog going in photos and words: Love ma little blog. 

22. Finish the living room redesign: Ugh. I spend a lot alot of time in the living room. Like more in a single day than in the entire two years before Frances was born (given that it now doubles as a giant toy box). It being half complete (or less than half complete since I decided I couldn't handle the stained rug for another minute) makes me pace. The problem is we have a HUGE blank wall and nothing to fill it with. We've looked everywhere in our little town for large art or even two pieces of medium art and have come up empty handed. We stuck two great big nautical maps up there which I thought might work but didn't. Or did for like a day. Any suggestions?  

23. Learn to sail: So amazingly in progress.  


Boat painting


Boat painted

24. Switch to cleaner greener cleaning products we can make ourselves and that make the earth happy: We've still got a mammoth cupboard of traditional Mr. Pinesol Cleans to get through first. Although they're probably not doing our respiratory systems any favours, I'd feel worse for the earth just dumping them down the drain (they end up there anyways but then I've wasted the energy it took to produce and deliver them here). 

25. Switch to cleaner greener cosmetics that make me and the earth happy: I've tried two new natural cleansers - derma e vanilla bean mousse and avalon lavender cleansing milk - both different but both really wonderful. I'm almost ready to commit to a new organic pressed powder I just need to get passed it costing seven times as much as the drug store brand (no exaggeration).  

29. Get sleep. Get a decent amount of sleep: I'm up to six beautiful hours a night most nights and its making a huge difference. I'm hoping for seven to eight eventually but without having to go to bed at the same time as Frances. Hmm. 

31. Get the compost in the backyard cleaned and functioning: Almost there. We were really lucky to find an almost brand new compost in our backyard when we moved in. But it was full and in a really awkward location. It's now empty (because who knows what kind of cat poo was put in there before us) and in the perfect place. I just need to find a second indoor container (hopefully today) so that we can separate out the meat and fish (and other feral cat beacons) for the municipal compost and keep the fruit and veggie scraps for ours. 

Phew. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Swoon

There are lots of debates in this house about our next house. Specifically whether we will build it or buy it. Rob says build that way we can live anywhere we want. I say buy. How hard can it really be to move some hundred year old farm house to a piece of land that you love? A rhetorical question since I've already decided that it's easy as pie. 

Old homes are the stuff of dreams with a character and a uniqueness that you just can't duplicate. The fact that you can't choose the layout and that the laundry hook-ups always seem to be in the basement forces you to be creative (let's fill this weird extra room off the entry entirely with pillows) and look on the bright side (four loads of cloth diapers up and down two flights of stairs equals one not-so-modest bowl of nutella and ice cream). 

Then I see something like this and think maybe the pro-build argument has some merit after all: 


Pantry of my organizational dreams and the only way I'll ever not have four opened boxes of lasagna noodles at the back of the cupboard.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

You Are One Year New

One week ago (eep. already) we packed our home full to the brim and toasted a tiny girl on her first birthday. It was a wonderful afternoon. Frances delighted in all the company in her little living room (and all the smiles and eyes on her) and was generous with her bright-eyed charm. She was spoiled with love and best wishes and many lovely and thoughtful gifts. 

Unfortunately, she was indifferent about the cake and the brightly coloured cupcakes - a trait not inherited from me (leftover cake? what leftover cake?) and so no cake-in-the-hair-first-birthday-party photos. Fortunately, Grandma and Susanne were very diligent about capturing the rest of the afternoon and so these photos:      


Birthday girl.


Tempting.


Happy birthday to you. 

One million one year old thank yous to everyone for making this party so very special. (Except you sunshine. Back of the line.)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Ships Ahoy

Yesterday we were extended the most amazing invitation: come sail to the Bras d'Or lakes. On a big beautiful boat. On a sunny Sunday. Where you will learn almost everything you need to know about sailing from one of the kindest older gentlemen you have ever met. 

P.S. The trip will take all day - like ten hours all day or the longest (by seven hours) that you've ever been away from your baby.

Of course I thought no. No thanks. You all go. Yes, she's one. Yes, we're not going over night. Yes, she's going to be in the most loving and doting hands. Yes, someday soon work and daycare will mean more apartness. But what if she needs me ... or what if she doesn't? 

Rob talked me down from my good-god-she's-going-to-be-eighteen-if-I-blink-once-more ledge and we are going. And Frank is staying, because babies and boats and novice sailors never mix. I'm still nervous. Because letting go, even if only a little bit and only for a day, is hard. But I'm excited too. I suspect the day is going to be a beautiful one and that we'll return even more in love with the idea of life at sea. I also suspect that this time with just adults is going to be one of those things that I never knew I needed, but really really did.

Frank The Builder

Helping dad:



Finished product:


Tuesday, June 7, 2011

You said what to your kid?

On any given day I will look down at a small person and say “no, we don’t put our arms in the sangria,” “the kitty doesn’t like it when you try to lift him by the foot,” and “you’re not allowed to drink barbeque sauce out of the bottle.”

Recently, I came across a collection of things you never thought you’d here yourself say out loud compiled by other mamas and papas. 

My tops:

Why on earth would you pee on your brother?
No, zebras do not have boobs.
You blow on the dandelion, you don't lick it!
Did you eat my Chapstick?
No light sabers at the table.
Do not let the dog lick the inside of your mouth.

So many things to look forward to. 

You can read the rest of You said what to you kid? here.

Monday, June 6, 2011

What Day Is It Mr Wolf?

Its been a busy week. A busy two weeks. A whirlwind. A visit from Grandma and Grandpa. A first birthday. A first birthday party. A visit from Uncle Raymond. A community yard sale (under sunny skies). A baby waking up three times a night with four poky teeth fighting their way through. More editing projects than there are nap and nighttime hours. And one very tired mama.

Light. Tunnel. End of. With party planning and yard sale planning behind us now I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. And a look around. And another deep breath. And some quiet time to drink in my little one year old. My graceful, small, running, beaming, full heart-bright eyes one year old. 
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