Techno-Savvy at age 5

Last night's chat with Brooklyn while the 2 of us snuggled together in my bed:

Brooklyn: What is heaven like Mum?
Moi: Well, I don't know because I've never been there but I know it's going to be wonderful.
B: We should go on the internet.
Moi: Why?
B: We should go onto the website.
Moi: What website?
B: The website for heaven.

So as she is about to enter kindergarten, my daughter has come to the understanding that whenever Mummy didn't know something, she would check on the internet. Mummy doesn't know about heaven, therefore.... naturally.... we must begin to surf. www.heaven.com perhaps..............

Blackberries..... Nesting........

You would have to be blind not to notice the plethora of blackberries out this year. They came early - I had two pies already in the freezer by mid-July whereas you don't normally see them until August. So, needless to say, I being the blackberry addict that I am I have been picking since mid-July.

Blackberries have always been my favourite fruit. Not just favourite berry, favourite fruit. I guess it all began back in England where the climate is similar and our family would pick so that my Mum could bake up some crumbles. For whatever reason blackberry and apple pie became my absolute favourite dessert on the planet. If you have only baked apple or blackberry pie, try combining the two. It really is a deluxe combination.

I feel that if God is going to give us free fruit we need to make the most of it and pick away. Tomorrow will be my 2nd lunch hour consumed with this pastime and I actually think even my mother is feeling this 7th trip out to the bushes is verging on the obsessive. I somehow have felt a season of 'nesting' coming on and 6 pies and 7 jars of jam in the freezer later I feel I may have squirelled away enough to keep us in Fall desserts for a while. So - if you need me I'll be in the prickles. Talk to you after the rains come and turn it all to mush......

Yoda's back!

Got the picture back - see below - whew.......

Cloudy Thursday

So, as you can see from my last post (which looks like it was this morning but actually wasn't because of having to switch to new blog....... read below ...... ugh) I've had to create this one to avoid some 'problems'. Like the new colours, dislike the fact that photos aren't currently loading (blogger problem, not mine....)

Anyhoo - today, and all of August, my supervisor (Anne) is in one of my favourite places. Cornwall, England. For anyone who gets the chance to visit the native-land I would highly suggest train-ing it down to Cornwall. The bluffs, the greenery, the English Tea and let's not forget the Clotted Cream! I was trying to explain Clotted Cream to Anne before she left. It is the richest most artery-blocking thing you can imagine. And yet it's divine. If you stick a spoon in it you can turn the carton upside down - spoon will be fully intact. It is THAT THICK! So you more scrape it out than spoon out. But on a scone with fresh homemade jam it can't be beat. And Cornwall has spots where you can forget that big cities exist. If you've only been to London you've missed it - the retreating feeling you can get by a long walk along the ocean, popping into antique shops where the proprietors know all of the locals..... anyways, dreaming away here. Childhood memories flooding back......

Thought to leave you with - Brooklyn's chat with my Mum about what are/are not nutritional foods. Grandma: "Cheese?" Brooklyn: "Yes, healthy - both cheese and milk have calcium." Grandma: "Blueberries?" Brooklyn: (and this one killed my Mum!) "Yes, VERY healthy - blueberries have antioxidants". !!!!! Smart cookie for 5 yrs...... then Brooklyn again after they discussed broccoli, spinach and brussel sprouts: " In fact Grandma, all green foods are healthy for you.... ummm....... except for Green Smarties"

So there you go - make sure you get your milk and blueberries but watch out for the chocolate stuff. Good rules to live by .....

Blogging Issues.....

Ok, so for those of you who logged on to the last blog, it had some viewer issues so I had to re-do and create this one instead (note new url....)

BUT, it appears I can't post any pictures right now.... and there was a REALLY cute one of Zachary and his YODA cake from this year's birthday party.....geesh....

The Cowboys are Gone.....

Did I tell you that the cowboy crazy seems to be finally over? Well, it is. And I have to admit, I'm having a bit of a hard time about it. My son at age 2 developed a fascination with all things cowboy. People said it was a phase that would last 6 months but it was more like an obsession that lasted 4 years. He had everything - chaps, leather boots, cowboy hat from Calgary etc....... he watched Davy Crockett, had more guns than I cared to admit and forever would be putting on 'rodeos' for us in our living room. Highly entertaining. But alas, the day came when cowboys no longer held Zachary's fascination - and instead he turned to Star Wars. Not that it is on the same scale you understand, but lightsabers now reign supreme in our house and every towel that is clean has been turned into a Jedi's cape or hood. I never thought I would actually say this, but I miss the guns.....

Well so far this weekend has been quite fun. I got a phone call late Thursday night from my cousin Dennis who lives in Vancouver. He works for an MLA there and wondered when a weekend at Hotel Richmond might be in order. Turns out this weekend was as good as any so he jumped on the ferry and headed over. I come from a very small family so Dennis represents 50% of all of my cousins - the other being his brother Brian. As Darrell comes from a Mum who had 5 sisters and a Dad who had 11 siblings, this is a foreign concept to him. Now truth be told, I didn't have much to do with Dennis until the last couple of years. We are 13 years apart so apart from him handing out programs at my wedding in '93, we haven't had much contact until just lately. But it's amazing how family members can bring out the most honest in you, and a level of humour that only other members of your side of the family really understand.

Saw my friend Jeni's band, Counting Heartbeats, this evening downtown in concert. It was fun and they had great energy on stage. Brooklyn danced with her friend Hannah and did their 'rocker' hair - this is where they take out all elastics and clips and bang out their heads in the air to the music. People try to tell me that Brooklyn got this from me - I strongly disagree. Yes I like a guitar with lots of distortion but never once did I ever mosh/slam or ride the crowds in concerts. I always saved that stuff for my living room......... And yes I did have rocker hair in the 80's but didn't everybody? I mean, you can't listen to Heart or Alannah Myles without having tall bangs or wings.Well, it's been an exhausting week - lots of events/visitors/family stuff/late nights so I think I'll hit the hay and call it a day. Til next time.....