New addition coming soon!

Well, not yet, but I will, sometime around end of Feb/early March. Should be fun!

Surviving the Zipper!

I haven't been taking many photos lately, which is why I haven't posted much lately, I think, as well as the simple fact that sometimes I'd rather climb into bed! However, Darlene just sent through a few pics taken on her camera, so I thought I'd get my act together and get in touch, albeit in this indirect, distant kind of way...

We are going well, although somewhat low energy. Gord's had an ear infection for two weeks now, and I'm sure he's about to become a biological hazard to society, cos he's been taking antibiotics and they don't seem to be doing much, so either he should take more, and wreck his gut, or he should stop, but then the bacteria could mutate and become some kind of chimera that we have to deal with as a global epidemic... well, maybe not that bad, but man, antibiotics for that long (and longer!) can't be good. Maybe he's just trying to be in solidarity with my Mum, who's also on antibiotics on the other side of the world. They obviously deepened their relationship when she stayed with us in July!

Man, okay, I'm in a slightly silly mood! Just had a lovely space where Piper's at a friend's princess dress-up birthday party, and Jasper's asleep in bed. I tried to sleep too, but I kept thinking too much... Friends of ours just had a baby, Zoe Rose, and I've had fun shopping for a present for her off Etsy - you can check our gift out here (don't look, Ali and Paul!). I hope they like it. I think Etsy is so cool - i love that you can search through the vintage stuff, and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't pick up stuff from the thrift store here and set up a resale business, cos I probably could have made big bucks! People here don't seem to value vintage stuff in the same way that a big metropolis of crafty, cool urbanites do (read Melbourne!). (Hope I'm not maligning anyone with that statement...)

***

Just got back from Mark and Tam's place, our friends who are building a strawbale house. I filled in a tiny section of wall, retying the bales to make them fit, a very time-consuming process. Gord's been there all day. Hard work, but it seems like you don't have to be an expert to do it, although that might make it easier! Anyway, it knocked off my silly mood and now I just feel tired, but in a good way! Piper had a ball, pretending to be a puppy, with two big real dogs as her mum and dad, and Mark and Tam as her owners. She wanted a leash and everything!

Anyway, now the kids are in the bath to get rid of all that hay and I'm thinking about baked potatoes for dinner. Gord loves side dishes, and wishes sometimes I'd make a few more, rather than just focussing on the main meal (not that I do all the cooking round here). But Mr Lover-Of-Variety (in his women too, if we weren't part of a relatively monogamous society! - all I'm saying is he's a relatively normal man!) won't have to worry about side dishes tonight!! Tonight I can do side dishes!

Maybe that silly mood wasn't so far away... Anyway, photos, yes, that's what I was actually going to post here, so here's us, lately:

Piper and the neighbours' cat.

Playing dress ups.

Kittens at the miniature horse farm.


At the parade, with Darlene.

Look, look! This is us getting off the Zipper! We were at Gimli for the Icelandic Festival, and after a lunch of fish and chips, Pat was urging us all to go on this ride, which zigs you round every which way. Gord was adamant that he was not up for it, so I went on with Darlene, and then again with Pat. I wasn't laughing as hard the second time around, and I did need a little relax on the beach to gather myself, but look at Pat, breathing a sigh of relief to be off! I've never seen anyone so green as he was! I think I did well in comparison!

Here we are at the Midway (the theme park).

And here's the kids sitting near the laden crab-apple tree, underneath the washing line, gathering and eating apples. The simple pleasures of summer. We've also been enjoying a fair few tomatoes and a capsicum from our little garden. Anyway, might sign off here. Love to all.

Trying out Goodreads

Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm loving reading this with my four-year-old daughter. It's a first for both of us: the first time we've read a chapter book together, and the first time either of us has read or heard this story. An iconic American classic that I somehow missed during my childhood, perhaps because I grew up in Australia.


View all my reviews.

Steinbach Town Parade

Well, after a month of "virtual" silence, and comments from both Matt and Dar, I have undertaken to post some pics! The other thing that has facilitated this post is the return of our camera, which Gord left on the street after the town parade on Friday. Thankfully Steinbach is a town full of Mennonites, and someone rang up tonight saying they'd picked it up.

Piper and I went in the parade for Body Driven Sport, Pat's bike shop. I got it into my head that I wanted to dress up as a clown, and Pat & Dar obliged me! When Piper saw me putting face paint on for dress rehearsal, she decided she wanted to be in the parade too. Here's our practice run...

Day of the parade: our friends Mark and Tam.

Jasper and Gramma.

Free freezie...

Darlene and Jayden.

Pat.

Here we are - it was hard to keep up with everyone on bikes!

I loved watching Piper hand out "suckers" (lollipops), picking some kids and handing them out personally. She really enjoyed the whole thing, and I was impressed with her stamina, walking what ended up being around five kms, by the time the day was done. She's ace!

This fellow and his wife live opposite Gord's parents on the highway, breeding these cute cute cute minature horses.

Zach in the big pill.

Gary, Gord's brother, the "busted" drug pusher.