Girls Night Out

My one friend with young children and I decided a few years back that we would start a hobby.  This hobby had to be something we could do together, have fun with, only need to commit to one night a week for a couple hours and NO kids were allowed. 

We started off in a ceramics class for awhile and we both really enjoyed it.  I loved that the kids got to spend one night a week with just their dad.  He would usually do something fun and then put them to bed.  Unfortunately ceramics got a little pricey so we had to quit for awhile and we were on the search for something else after almost a year of no hobby outing.

Then one day in our local paper I saw an article about a local artist that came to speak at the churches painting class.  That afternoon I phoned the man in charge of it and signed us up right away.  They were all so welcoming there and all different levels and different mediums were used. 

My friend hadn't painted a "painting" since grade 4 and I don't have much more experience than that!  But we got to go out and chat and have fun AND laugh alot at what we were doing!

Here is my first painting from 'girls night'.

Unfortunately the classes are over for the summer but will be starting again in September.  I think we may just keep on painting next year too.  I like to call this painting innocence.

Hard Work AND Fun!

Well it is getting SO busy here, as I am sure it is with every farmer out there, no matter where you are.
I was at the local Nursery today and bought $200 worth of seeds and a few plants for the garden, Yikes - Really!!!  I couldn't believe it.  I am now totally committed to having my vegetable stand this summer but first I have to plant those $200 worth of seeds, build a stand, make signs and get everything in order all within the next couple weeks, easy peasy, right?!

We have been planting a few things here, onions, peas, rhubarb, parsley and mint.  The kids help out lots but usually get distracted once they spot the first worm and then the worm hunt is on.

We take the occasional break to play on our uncles trampoline which is great fun now at their ages.

We play outside lots.

I had the opportunity to see Johnny Reid in concert again this past weekend and it was AMAZING!!!  He really puts on a great show and the entire band is extrememly talented.  He is a Canadian, Scottish born, country singer.

This is another wicked Canadian group, The Stellas, which are actually husband and wife.  They rocked 'In This House' which was a total surprise for everyone there because no one knew that they were performing.

So we have been having lots of fun mixed in with lots of work.  Life is good.

Grateful Sunday

A Sunday ritual where you post a picture with a brief description of something that you are grateful for. Then the next week add another picture and description. In a year you will have 52 fabulous things in your life that you are grateful for!
If you want to join in then leave a link with your grateful moment.


Week 4

This week I am thankful for all the mothers out there that are striving to do the best they can for all the children that are in their lives.  We received these board games and others from one of our 'grandmothers' today for our children to play with.  What great fun they are going to be!

Week 3

I just love hanging clothes out on the clothesline. There is something so simple and historic about a clothesline. I'm grateful for the opportunity to connect with my ancestors through a clothesline.

Week 2

This week I am grateful for all the beautiful eggs that my laying hens are providing for us. It is wonderful to have farm fresh eggs, plus it provides a tiny income for me while doing something I love.

Week 1

I am grateful this week for all the wonderful open space we have in the country. There is always places for the kids to explore and find all sorts of treasures.

Chickens Say Cluck...

Today I went to Sadie's class that had 15 other Senior Kindergarten/Grade 1 kids in it.  I brought along Seth and together we taught her class all about chickens. 

I told them all about feeding them, we talked about their eggs, and even looked closely at their feathers.  We put eggs in jars filled with vinegar to see what would happen after a week of sitting in the vinegar.  (it takes away the outer shell leaving the membrane intact so it bounces a little too, just in case you were wondering!)

We compared different feeds, different sizes of eggs and the difference between store bought eggs and farm fresh eggs.

We even brought a chicken to the classroom for everyone to see and everyone then got to toss some bread or lettuce at it.  They were very excited about that part.

One of the most exciting things for them was to see the chickens foot up close and discover that it was just like the dinosaurs!  But the most exciting thing these 5-6 year olds saw? You can probably guess but yes, it was watching the chicken poop!  They were thrilled when it pooped several times and then they could even smell it.  Yep that is what excited a 5 or 6 year old - chicken poop.

Obviously I couldn't take any pictures because of all the privacy issues with the school but it was a great way to spend the morning.

Kids Activities

I have been wondering what to 'get' my kids into a lot lately.  I have heard so many times, if you don't put your kids in something when they are young, then they will never stick with it.  So the question is, What do  you put them in?

Piano is ok, but doesn't everyone play the piano?  Sports are ok too but what sport is going to take them the furthest and that they will enjoy and that won't cost so much or take too much time?  Dance is another option but what dance?  Even though we live in the country we are close enough to places that participating in an activity seems to have endless possibilities.

Well I thought about it for awhile and decided that horse riding was what they would start off with.  They can then chose to do it recreationally or competitively once they are older, the choice will be theirs. 

We have a neighbour that teaches and so we went to her farm for a test run and the kids loved it!

This is Lily.  She is a dwarf miniature horse.

The kids learned a lot from her and she was so patient with them.

Seth enjoying his ride.

Sadie enjoying her ride too.

It was so cold that day that it was great to have a short trip back to home and then each enjoy a nice cup of hot cocoa.

this moment:: Dressing themselves!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. One photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

 

Stop by Soulemama's blog to visit more moments.

DIY Kitchen Island

I salvaged a wonderful, old dresser from my mom!  It was in her bedroom, that then moved to her spare room, and was going to then go to the dump.  ~Wait~ THE DUMP!  oh please let me have it, I'm sure I can use it for something!

I was originally going to leave it alone and use it for, well, a dresser.  Then I thought we don't really have room upstairs or the need for one and we needed lots of room in our small kitchen.

I started by painting it white with just a touch of gray.  Then I spray painted the handles with a matte black.

I added some hooks onto the one side and a paper towel holder (that was a scarf display rack in the store!)  and that was it!

Now I have a great space in my kitchen for holding my cookie sheets, frying pans and many other things!  I am so excited over this DIY project.