Sunday...

These shots are from Sunday night... we had the whole family over at Mom and Dad's place for "family day" dinner and that dragged into second service and coffee and then games... as our family days inevitably and thankfully do... i love spending time together with everyone - feels so wonderful to have everyone gathered and getting alone and just hanging out as a family.  We are truly blessed!
The first few pics are of the boys... they were running around like crazy things and my camera's flash wasn't working so they just turned into blurs... which i thought was pretty funny!

Apparently Peter was moving faster than Aaron here..

But here he goes... juice in hand, fuel for the body!

You can just see the stripes here... makes me laugh!

Then they discovered the coffee table.  Who needs books when you have boys?

 After the little scalliways were safely stowed away in bed... the adults decided it was time to play a game too... Sorry, the picture doesn't want to rotate the right way... but you get the idea.  We apparently need, as a family, some work on how much nonsense we can come up with because our scores were pretty sad! 

Mike and Tom were working pretty hard on definitions... "a city in France" and "a torture system used by the ancient Mayans to extract information from foreign tribe members"

Mom and Rachel deep in thought... wracking their brains for some more untruths!

Paint-balling...not a topic i'd thought i would ever blog about...

The arsenal... primed and ready to go!

 So... a few months ago, my good friends Laura and Alvar ran an idea past a bunch of our friends... did we want to participate in a Wagjag deal to go paintballing in February??  At the time, i remember vaguely thinking that hey, that can't be too bad, can it?  It's cheap and people seem to have fun right?  So i hit "pay" and went on my merry way in life...kinda sorta forgetting all about it (or repressing the memory, not sure which one!) 
As time wore on and October merged into November and December... the memory still lay fairly dormant.  Once the snows of January were on the ground, plans had to be made for the big outing and now serious thoughts began to be entertained in my poor brain - "Hey, this is going to hurt!" and "i'm not a violent person, can i even shoot someone?  I'm supposed to be all caring and nice as a nurse... my role is to help people, not hurt them!"  and various other ideas began to crowd into my daily thought processes.  The weeks wore on and unfortunately the paintball place hadn't burnt down mysteriously or i hadn't broken my arm, leaving me hale and hearty for this adventure.  I wasn't even sure what to wear - i had been advised that layers were a good thing - to cut down on how hard the paint balls would hit!  That bit of advice was indeed good! 
Inevitably, Saturday followed Friday and we were now lining up at the counter at the paintballing place, receiving our armour and instructions on how to play the game.  The girls looked a might more scared than the boys... i for one was too busy worrying about whether i would know if the safety were on or off and would i accidentally hit someone point blank with a paint ball in the "safe" zone and be carried off to jail for assault with a non-deadly weapon. 
Fortunately, "red is dead" stuck with me and there were no accidents with the safety or trigger.  We were geared up and (sorta) ready to go.  Karen and I had a master plan - hide in the corner and pretend we were rocks.  Unfortunately, this wasn't a great plan since when i looked up paintballing tips on the internet in a last ditch attempt to acquire some knowledge about this little-publicized sport, they highly recommended moving - that a stationary target was an easy pick. 
First game, somehow my mind was blank... not only did i only manage to probably fire five paintballs, probably hitting the ceiling or the floor with great accuracy, i managed to get shot in the first two minutes.  It was quite a shock to be shot in the back by a warrior who snuck up on unsuspecting females - how valiant and brave to shoot quivering masses of femininity!  All's fair in love and war i suppose eh? 
The next game i was determined to do better and i did.. made it three minutes this time before someone got me square between the eyes on my mask... since i couldn't see anything anymore, i feebly found my way out of the action zone and wiped up the evidence.
The third and fourth games were a bit more fun since we were allowed three "lives" and so the play continued a little longer.  I still "died" fairly quickly but at least i moved a bit further up the playing field and didn't hide in my corner.  The fourth game, i did my best to empty my gun but alas, i am no Rambo or Terminator so i emerged from the fray still carrying ammo... i probably needed to remember to pull the trigger a bit more.
But at the end, we could say we survived... none too worse for the wear - i got a couple of war "wounds" but they were nothing to write home about - the one on my back is nicely turning black and blue now from the initial fiery red... but thankfully it doesn't hurt much and i didn't manage to get too many more!  I think i didn't manage to shoot anyone in the whole course of the game, usually only daring to poke my gun out and spray a few shots here and there but never aimed properly, or none that anyone owned up to anyways... but it was (grudgingly admitted) fun and i wouldn't even mind to go again.... words i never thought would ever have come out of this mouth! 

The warriors before... unfortunately there was no "after" picture

Wednesday afternoon 1pm

So, once again, the weather, the sun and the wildly dripping eaves troughs beckoned me from my lazy morning inside to venture outside and get a little exercise in.  My thought was to walk to the library, one of my favorite places to go during the day - if i don't visit in person, i visit the catalogue several times a week to keep track of new things i'd like to read or watch or listen to.  So, scorning the winter jacket, i donned my favorite vest and boots and got on my way!  Hopefully my favorite library lady, Lisa, would be there to enthusiastically greet me and ask how my family was doing - no such luck today, but i love having someone i know there!  Makes it feel so homey! 

As you walk, as opposed to driving, you notice other things.  You don't have to worry about potholes or stopsigns so much, you do have to worry about half-frozen dog poop which ignorant people have left under the snow hoping it would dissolve into nothingness by magic over the winter.  I saw that several houses on my walk had tiles on the roof as opposed to shingles - i was intrigued - i thought that was largely a european thing.  I noticed several houses on my path that were neglected and looked pretty empty and i wondered what their stories were.  I liked seeing the bare forms of the trees, each one so different and was happy that God created trees!  I saw the evidence that a little critter had been misbehaving when the pavement was wet. 

I listened to the quiet - the lack of traffic through my survey - i did pick a good place to live when i can go ten minutes without hearing or seeing a car.  I marvelled at how the snow melts - lots of jagged piles here and there, some touched by sun and others still holding out against the power of the melting rays.  And i was surprised by a face in the snow....

I felt the warmth on my face and thought about walking home backwards so i could have sun on my face walking to the library and home but alas, that wasn't a good plan. I laughed at a house number for some peculiar reason - it struck me that having the #911 isn't the greatest advantage - hello, 911 emergency. What is your problem? Yes, i have dropped a fridge on my toe and can't move. What's your address? 911.... and so on. I thought about having to walk all the time - if i didn't have the blessing of a car, how much more limited life would be, how little i would visit, how much less i might buy, how much smaller my circles would be, how grateful i would be for the bus (i'm scared of taking the bus by myself, afraid to end up in some downtown deadend street in the middle of nowhere all by myself cause i forgot how to transfer or get off the bus.  Silly eh?)

And then there was supper... i had ground beef in the freezer, lots of veggies in the fridge which i was petrified of going to waste so tonight i hauled out the pans and came up with Danielle's kinda stir-fry, noodle, veggie dish thing.  You find some sauce in the fridge, add some spices and voila - Dinner!  It was pretty tasty but i was more impressed with how it looked when it was done, hence the picture!  I love company for dinner if you're ever hungry! 

February 18... the big melt

Yes, indeed, the tantalizing smells and sights of spring are abundant on this mid-February day. I daren't get my hopes up too high as i have been warned by reliable sources that we are due for more of the cold white stuff again on Sunday, but for today, just today, i can enjoy the fact that my furnace hasn't turned on all morning, the front door window has been open and i was able to go to the grocery quite comfortable in my sweater (and pants and shoes... don't worry!). The warm breeze is teasing and pulling my hair, urging me to be outside, to enjoy this little burst of freshness. Walking, avoiding puddles of melting snow, but probably inwardly somehow wanting to splash around in them too! I'm glad i still have a bit of kiddishness at heart.
And yes... somehow underneath all that snow, colour has survived... i don't know how... a little johnny-jump-up has appeared from under 2 feet of snow and somehow seems to have emerged a little pale but alive. And surrounding him, all little tip of bulbs are poking their heads out through the damp earth... looking for the sun... it's too warm, i tell them and argue with them that it's too early to be up yet... go back to sleep for a little while lest you get nipped with the cold weather still to come. But it's amazing to see how instant the response is to a little bit of warmth! And thankfully, it also indicates that when i planted the bulbs in the fall, i managed to plant them right-side up this time! Such a gardener am I! I am also curious now to know what will come up where. When i had my garden renovations done in the summer, they dug up all the bulbs and they were all mixed up... i tried to plant them in groups, but it could make for interesting arrangements, daffodils and tulips all intermingled... good thing there aren't any familial rivalries like the Montagues and Capulets in the spring bulb world!

February 17

I know you're probably wondering .... why? Well, thought you should know that despite the fact that if i ever went to the mechanic and he told me my headlight fluid was low, i'd probably say, fill it up... despite that fact, i do know how to open Prunelope's hood and top her up with some good old washer fluid - a real necessity at this melting time of year. My one questions is this, after all the years of inventing and reinventing cars, isn't there an easier way to pour washer fluid into the reservoir? I always seem to slop so much before i actually get the pour directed properly that i'm sure it's a conspiracy between the auto manufacturers and the windshield washer fluid people... I can see it all clearly, executives wearing dark sunglasses sequestered in secret office rooms with nasty grins on their grizzled faces and rubbing their hands together in glee as they perpetrate this difficulty in yet another model of car...
I am a bit of a creeper, i was taking pictures of my parent's orchids yesterday after coming back from a little stroll and they looked the best through the window... that poor plant is going to snap or fall over... time for some reinforcement!

February 16

You know it's spring when.... footsteps in the snow have morphed into huge craters... maybe the Yeti was tromping through my yard delivering my morning newspaper?

February 14....

It's late... no long and meaningful stories tonight... just a few shots of my afternoon... spent quietly studying in the library as i had a whole day to study and was afeared that i would squander it at home doing meaningless little things and getting distracted to no end... so i betook my sorry self off to the public library, ensconced myself in a sunny corner, doffed my shoes, and got to work... i worked so hard my highlighter even ran out... how diligent eh? Just so you can see where i was today and how i did actually do work! But every once in a while, i could still look up at the sky which was ever changing and be glad for my little cozy corner as i heard the wind whipping around the building... winter's not quite ready to give up yet!

February 12 - Also know as "How to get long arms"... or "The joys of a car"... or "the wimpy woman's whine"

I know, you're probably wondering about this picture of the day... i must say i was a little stumped for ideas today since i think i might be boring people with many images of snow and trees and skies (i might be addicted to those things). So to get some inspiration, i decided to don my boots and coat and mitts and hat (looking like a displaced Yeti) and head out to the grocery to buy orange juice - doesn't everyone need orange juice desperately on a Saturday afternoon at 1:00? I think yes! It didn't turn out to be as cold as the howling wind would have indicated and so i ended up nice and warm by the time i clomped into the store.
I had thought the benefits were numerous - i could stock up on Vitamin D, i would get some fresh air into my poor lungs, i would get a little exercise, i would save some fuel in my car and thus the environment so i felt pretty good about myself! Well, goes to show pride goes before a fall (or a stretch).
I gathered my orange juice, and somehow a few other things managed to sneak their way into my bag (i only brought one, figuring that would at least limit me), but they all fit into the bag and it wasn't seemingly so bad, i mean, little old ladies regularly walk to the store and if they could do it, so could i! I think i might have forgotten that they often have handy-dandy little carts to carry their groceries. But i'm young and (relatively) healthy. No problems. About half-way home, i began have indications that i might have overestimated my strength and began to be a bit afraid that if i carried on the way i was going, i would end up with one really long arm and one short one.
I mean, having longer arms could have benefits - you could group-hug more people, you'd be able to pick apples from higher branches than the average joe, you could hold more library books in your arms. But it might have drawbacks as well - uneven hugs, difficulties finding shirt and sweaters that fit and many other such things.
So i hobbled along the last few blocks to home frequently switching from side to side and thinking that the kilometerage of the trip had increased ten fold while i was in FreshCo! Amazing how that happens eh?
I am fortunately safely home, i've measured my arms and i believe they're still okay just in case you were worried... just a little shaky! I guess, to be forewarned, is to be forearmed?? oh boy..

February 11

I wonder what the Keebler elves would think of this job? I think it would be grounds for immediate dismissal or at least a very severe reprimand and a pay cut. I had a little snack with my coffee this morning and i pulled two cookies out of the box. One was a perfect specimen of maply goodness.The other apparently missed quality control. Slightly askew. How, i ask you, am i supposed to eat that properly? I have a system for eating maple cookies. First bite the head off the maple leaf so that the cookie is an even rectangle. Then start across the shoulders of the leaf and finish with the bottom. My system was completely disorganized for this one. Maybe that's why i'm feeling kinda out of kilter...If my day is crazy, i'm going to have to get someone in trouble.
Moral of the story... don't buy no-name maple cookies. Standards just aren't up to snuff.

February 8

Apparently, it was a little warm the other day - before we dove right back into our terrible deep freeze and the sun had a chance to do a little bit of work after being unemployed in the warmth-lending department for a while and so some cool icicles formed on my porch. The drips were coming down hard and fast and sounded like spring. No such luck so far. It's still early. Keep waiting, Danielle.

February 7 - Deck the halls with...

Balls of chocolate? New cereal brand? I'm getting me some more! Where is it on sale? I wonder what the nutritional content of chocolate ball wrappers is? Maybe it's good for diets or cholesterol or low aluminum levels...

February 6

Okay, i have to laugh about this picture. Whilst I did not take it with my own camera, i did capture this moment in time on a borrowed camera, much to all our amusement. There is a story behind it all, which you can read on my dear friend's blog http://alvarlaurav.blogspot.com/2011/02/expert-tiling-job.html
And while this picture did not make it into that post, i did take it and thought it should probably be shared (i did have permission for this one - don't worry!). Laura was just getting herself ready for her "very happy" look and somehow i clicked before she was quite done. Ooops. Funny. Enjoy!

Okay, i have to laugh about this pcit

February 5

Poor Prunelope, languishing out there in the frosty hinterlands of the DriveWay. I'm sorry, you can't come inside, no matter how much you plead. You're too heavy to sit on the couch, you'd make a mess on the carpets and you're kinda short on conversation most of the time. You must remain outside. Sorry. But i still like you.

February 4

My deck... oh how i remember basking in the hot summer sun on your nicely laid out planks, how i remember my plants blooming and my fish swimming, how i remember that you had steps so i could go to my garden, oh, how i remember i had a garden. It's all buried now... waiting for spring.... my sandals are ready and waiting!

Catching up - Feb 3

Mom and I went for a snow walk... the day after i got back from Haiti - a bit of a contrast in weather and surroundings to be sure! But i am glad that Canada has seasons and that we are healthy enough to be out there enjoying them... and i'm thankful for the time to spend with my mom.
I sometimes get really emotional if i think about my parents not being here anymore - i maybe shouldn't be so sentimental but i just attended funeral visitation for a friend from high school - her mom passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly and I suppose, like Rev VanOlst reminds us, we always have to be prepared for when our time comes and God calls us home. But I wonder if I am ready, waiting for that day eagerly.
Is it wrong to be happy about things here on earth - God did give us pleasure in this life, it is hard to imagine sometimes how much more wonderful heaven will be. I know I cling to the passing things of the world so often, placing them in important spots in my life but spend so little time truly getting to know God and His Word. I sometimes get so frustrated with myself and my weak resolve, but i just finished listening to the sermon Rev Dejong preached in our church several weeks ago about the comfort and compassions of the Lord being new each morning and i'm encouraged again.
And truly, on this frosty cold morning, with a fresh blanket of pure white snow, it was easy to remember God's mercies and I thanked Him for this special time we could spend together, marveling at the snow sculptures that the wind worked in the fields, the white clumps clinging to branches and posts, smoothing everything over with a vanilla frosting, the cold we could feel on our cheeks and fingers as we fought through the drifts and stored up memories together!




Mom and I went for a snow walk... the day after i got back from Haiti - a bit of a contrast in weather and surroundings to be sure! But i am glad that Canada has seasons and that we are healthy enough to be out there enjoying them... and i'm thankful for the time to spend with my mom.
I sometimes get really emotional if i think about my parents not being here anymore - i maybe shouldn't be so sentimental but i just attended funeral visitation for a friend from high school - her mom passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly and I suppose, like Rev VanOlst reminds us, we always have to be prepared for when our time comes and God calls us home. But I wonder if I am ready, waiting for that day eagerly.
Is it wrong to be happy about things here on earth - God did give us pleasure in this life, it is hard to imagine sometimes how much more wonderful heaven will be. I know I cling to the passing things of the world so often, placing them in important spots in my life but spend so little time truly getting to know God and His Word. I sometimes get so frustrated with myself and my weak resolve, but i just finished listening to the sermon Rev Dejong preached in our church several weeks ago about the comfort and compassions of the Lord being new each morning and i'm encouraged again.
And truly, on this frosty cold morning, with a fresh blanket of pure white snow, it was easy to remember God's mercies and I thanked Him for this special time we could spend together, marveling at the snow sculptures that the wind worked in the fields, the white clumps clinging to branches and posts, smoothing everything over with a vanilla frosting, the cold we could feel on our cheeks and fingers as we fought through the drifts and stored up memories together!

January 28-30

Early morning traffic on the road to Jacmel through Leogane...
lots to see and watch along the way!
These are so out of order - i sometimes hate Blogger for lack of ease of manipulating pictures. This colourful scene was at the little cove at the resort - lots of neat art for sale!
Early morning sunrise - was neat to watch peeking over the hills!
More sunrise - i think i took a lot of pictures that day!
And more... i think i might have a bit of a thing with clouds and trees and sun!

Jacmel, here we come. We departed Port-au-Prince early Friday morning for the coastal town of Jacmel, a three hour drive (if we hit the traffic right). I was entirely amazed how much traffic was already on the go at 5:20 am when we hit the road. We had a bit of an exciting ride, with a few bouts of car-sickness and lots of busyness in the capital but the actual drive through the mountains was beautiful and i very much enjoyed seeing the countryside. We spent the weekend at a small resort - Cyvadier - and enjoyed a well-deserved break with Randy and Karen... swimming and playing games... and eating club sandwiches!

January 27

Thursday - January 27 - Nicole took the wheel after Randy visited the hardware store and did a marvellous job driving us to the grocery store - i think Maia didn't know what to think about Aunt Cole sitting in "Daddy's" spot.
There is still a lot of clean-up to be done - a building being taken apart by hand on Main Delmas - it was strange to drive by places here and in the rest of the city, places that don't exist anymore or are piles of rubble... very sobering. There are tent cities everywhere around the city - testimony to the devasttation that took place and the displacement of so many people.
Aunt Cole reading, usually it was Andy the Ant but this day i guess Andy was second choice...
Playing with Aunt Cole in her fun new tent - Maia loved this and regularly requested our company in the tent - though we didn't try the tunnel for some reason! Blankie also enjoyed the tent!
It was like Christmas... opening all the tubbies, finding places for all the goodies from Canada!
Little Levi - a very happy guy, i was happy to "adopt" another niece and nephew!
I just missed Nicole and Maia playing jumprope with the school kids at Adoration. It's a place full of energy and life and hope!
Maia was in charge of holding the plastic bottles we picked up after a morning of errands with Randy...
A tent city in one of the city parks, the statue looks like she's in charge of laundry...