foul smells

Last night, in an attempt at making a little snack of popcorn, Alissa turned our house and microwave into a nasty, foul smelling mixture of burnt horridness. It wasn't her fault entirely. She pressed an extra 0 at the end of the usual time it takes to pop a bag, and all of a sudden I realized where the smell was coming from, but by that time it was to late.

Today .. the house smells of burned popcorn still and anytime I use the microwave, the smell grows even more intense. I've gone online in search of a remedy .. and thus far I've tried a container of lemon juice, heating it up to boiling point, x about 10 and I may have to continue that a little longer to see if it'll actually work. Next idea will be vinegar .. or vanilla extract. I just want this horrid smell G.O.N.E already!

bach'ing it

As of 6pm'ish tonight .. I am a bachelorette for an entire week. Dave's gone to the mainland with a friend, to do some hunting and the girls and I are left home to our own defenses. I have to admit .. I'm in huge need of this quiet time, and I'm going to bask in the fun only us girls can have. And while they're in school, I can enjoy the quiet hours and maybe even beat this house into some sort of semblance and order.

To start off our week .. we're taking in a Hillary Duff movie, popcorn and all in the comforts of my bed. How much better can it get?

wordless wednesday

Kinsol Trestle .. one of the oldest wooden train trestles still intact (not completely and not used anymore).

wordless wednesday

even in the harbour, where the seawall runs, the salty air does wonders as I breathe it in deep .. one breath at a time.

bursting sunshine

FINALLY, we're seeing fruit of our labour. The girls and I can't be more excited about our ginormous sunflowers' new pretty yellow petals making an appearance. Standing tall at over 6ft, with this pretty bloom at the top makes entering the fall months so worth it, because I can gaze at this and be reminded of all the other fall things I so love. Like stumbling through the corn field maze, playing in the crisp fallen leaves, crisp walks in the pungent smelling and cool nature paths that are of abundance around here, and just so much more!

quoting

Sometimes there's quotes that ring so true for me, that I have to share them.

Here's just two.
"our right lives ride in our cells, in our DNA, and they pop up to speak to us in idle moments, when we think we're just shooting the breeze" Martha Beck

"Don't ask me: What about tomorrow? I do not wish to answer you until today has gone." Toller Cranston

little gem

I found this in amongst a stack of papers I was sorting through and tossing, this morning. I remember when Hailey sat and wrote these too (at the end of that last school year) and it was neat hearing her figure out the syllables yet write exactly what she wanted to say. I think she messed up slightly .. but I'll never say unless asked. It's being tucked away with other important school papers, for keepsake.

Please excuse the mess I made of erasing her last name in PSE.

destination north

oh no .. I'm certainly not planning a trip up north again anytime in the next few months .. no worries.

What I'm talking about with that subject line is, my north star. I picked up a book today, that is sure to be a self searching good read. It helps you work through issues to find what your personal north star is, and how to achieve it. I plan on burrying my nose deep into it's covers, in search of some guidance and answers.

Second day of school went WELL! This week pretty much is a write off for the kids, only because the schools are shuffling things on paper, trying to make class sizes manageable and workable. At the moment .. this means my girls are temporarily in the same classroom, with three grades and over 30 children. Obviously this will change .. but how I cannot forecast. I'm not to worried .. not like last year anyway. I know with the extra children from another nearby elementary school closing, we won't face a three grade split again like last year .. but it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Until then .. let me leave you with this magnificent flower .. aka the giant sunflower growing by the front step. So far no petals unfolding, so I'm positive no seeds will be harvested yet again this year .. but it's fun growing such a massive piece of greenery.

first official day

Schools back in for the year! (sing that to the tune of School's Out for Summer) As much as I always look forward to school being out, and a full summer of adventures ahead of us .. this year sending the girls back to school has been like no other. I remember this usually being a depressing time of year, school wise, for me. Either my oldest is going to kindergarten or starting the full days of grade one, or then it's been my baby starting kindergarten and last year her very first full days of first grade. Now .. I'm an old pro at this. I've come to love and enjoy those precious six hours of quiet time. I have things I plan on filling that time with .. including whipping this place back into shape, and we can't forget my medical transcription course I set aside while I enjoyed the heat and sun of the summer.

So here are my girlies .. dressed in something far to warm for the weather, but they insisted they be little High School Musical rock stars. Really .. when did they decide to grow up so darn fast?

long haul

I'm back from a spontaneous trip up to my old stomping grounds. I was in dire need of visiting my parents and siblings that still live there, so that made the 16 or 18 hour (haven't figured out how long it took us this time) drive up worthwhile. I took loads of pictures, made lots of new memories, and re-energized my soul for a few short days. Now it's back to the grindstone and getting ready for the girls to head back to school, and for me to start back on my course. I hope the cooler days will bring some extra brain power my way.