Wednesday.

Luke's been waking up an hour early and then taking a three hour nap every afternoon this week. I LOVE the new routine. I get so much done in the afternoons and even sometimes get a nap after I've finished my to-do list. Today I threw the to do list out the window and read my book (Digging Deep by Fran Sorin - kinda cheesy but appropriate) in the sunshine on the deck after a long, hot shower. Nice warm weather here all week. What a dream! We've been outside every morning all morning, and often again for an hour or two after dinner. Unexpectedly gorgeous april.

The best bite

click on the photos to see my yard work up close.
Thanks to Adeline for giving me SO MANY perennials!

I often save the best bite for last. It's an exquisite bite, proportioned perfectly to fit on my fork with equal amounts of carrot, potato and meat, or ice cream and caramel, or chocolate and nougat. Since I've had Luke, eating has become more about what Luke needs to get through a polite meal at the table and less about watching my plate or even noticing if I ate anything at all. Meals often go by in a blur and I am content to know that something made it into my son's and my own stomach. I do sometimes need my space and I dream about meals when he will never ask for a bite and I will never have to share. Because if he asks, I always share. I can't say no to the little boy who says, "Tanks, Mama!" as if I just handed him the keys to his very own car. And it just doesn't seem right to eat something right in front of him and not give him a bite. Solution: don't eat it in front of him. Sometimes I wait for him to go to sleep before I eat just so that I can eat an entire banana from start to finish without sharing. And sometimes I have special treats that I hide away in the cupboard and only bring out when he's gone or sleeping, and I hoard them and I savor them and I revere them. Yes, I'm talking specifically about See's candy.

I brought a pound of bordeaux home from California as a special treat just for me. I've been eating one every now and then when I needed one of those, "All alone just for me" times. Yesterday I took my See's downstairs during Luke's afternoon nap so that I could iron some t-shirts and enjoy my sweets. I left them on my sewing table thinking that if Derek and I watched some TV later that evening maybe I'd eat the very last one - or maybe I'd save it for a special occasion - or for a time when I really needed a pick me up. After dinner I went over to Adeline's house to dig up some of her perennials which she was going to split with me, and Luke and Derek stayed home. I dug and planted and finally came in just in time to put Luke to bed, took a shower, and went down to flop on the couch to watch TV. Just before the much needed flop, I saw what appeared to be rat droppings on the couch! As I inspected them more carefully I recoiled in disbelief. There, on the couch in the basement - there were hundreds of...I can hardly say it... little chocolate sprinkles. Between the cushions, on the floor, on the coffee table. And under the corner of the couch? My See's candy box. Empty. My very last bordeaux.

I knew I was giving up certain things when I had a child. I knew I was giving up the greeting when I walked into a room - people don't say "Hi Laura!", anymore, they say "Hi, Luke!". I knew I was giving up solid nights of sleep. I knew I was giving up being footloose enough to walk to the ice cream store whenever I felt hungry for ice cream. I knew I was giving up close relationships with numerous people - the pool of people who know me best has dwindled since my days are full of Luke. I knew I was giving up having lovely belongings that stayed pretty and clean and whole. I knew I was giving up all these wonderful things. But what I didn't count on was giving up the best bite. That one hurts.

No photos :(

Sorry, but the weather's been so nice since Saturday that I haven't gotten out my camera, or hardly even sat down! We've been out in the sunshine, digging in the dirt. I am a much happier, healthier person when there's dirt under my fingernails. Although, I can quickly get distracted and say, forget to post the blog.
I apologize.
Definitely pictures tomorrow.

Friday Moment

cat in action-
this is a typical sight:
Luke running around,
cat tearing in for a swat
when he least expects it.

About half of my tomatoes have died (due to sun exposure), but I like to think it was natural selection and only the best and strongest survived. And anyhow they're all mixed up so I don't know which is which. I am enjoying watching the surviving tomatoes pop out new leaves every couple of days though, and Derek put up my garden boxes so you can bet I'm putting a few of the tomatoes out in the dirt tomorrow morning. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the soil warms up nice and good inside my little greenhouse cover (the pipe is part of the cover, plastic is not photographed). The other option for starting seeds in my planters is going to the MCC store and seeing if they have some old windows I could cover the dirt with to keep them warm. I just love my dirt!

Crocus

Yesterday afternoon we went on a spontaneous visit to the windy wilds of Manitoba to find the native crocuses in bloom. Our guide, Adeline, introduced us to the wild crocus, which is an endangered species and which only grows in un-tilled land. Each year they are becoming harder and harder to find, but Adeline knows where to look. Apparently the crocus is deceptively clean and fuzzy looking. If picked (and DON'T because they're protected by law!) they are full of bugs and the bugs will slowly come out and cover your dining room table. While we were out there, Adeline and Luke also had a good listen to the frogs in the slough (I've never actually used that word in a sentence so I hope I'm right in referring to it as a slough - maybe it's a creek, or just a ditch....?). The frogs were singing beautifully and Luke shouted into the wind, "The frogs are talkin' to YOU!" I lost my hat a few times in the wind and was reminded of my sincere dislike of the howling prairie wind, but it's part of living on the prairie, and this was a true Manitoba experience.

If you'd like to read the story that first made me dislike the prairie wind, read "The Painted Door" by Sinclair Ross. This was required reading for my Canadian Literature class and we discussed the personification of the wind in this short story, and how the wind was not just personified, but was an actual character in the story.

But a word of caution, it is not a pleasant story, and after reading it you may never feel the same about wind again. Also, it will not leave you with the nice feeling my post has left you with, and might in fact ruin your day. Definitely do not read it just before bed. Or first thing in the morning. Or if you're already in a bad mood. Or if you're in a good mood. In fact, you're better off not reading it at all. Which is why I can still say it's a wonderfully written piece. It's stuck with me like an old nightmare.

Modification

In an effort to reduce the light entering Luke's window I modified the curtains (lengthened them) by letting out the top hem and putting on tabs instead of one long fold. I like the tabs better anyway. The picture with the curtains closed is quite bright still because I have the blinds wide open behind, but with the modifications and the blinds closed these curtains should do the trick!

Goofing off

Yesterday I made curtains for Luke's bedroom! I am really pleased with the colors, not so pleased with how much light still comes in.
However, the fact that I made these curtains for $13 wins them a LOT of points.