Open Doors

Today I took everyone on an Open Doors adventure, they were not enthusiastic.  We had many events to choose from including a lot of church and museum options but as it was a lovely day again we went to an orchard specialising in cider making and a herb farm.

At the cider orchard there were even more strange gourds than at the roadside stall outside Exeter.  I'm sure that this sort of thing must have inspired weird fairy tales and things.

As for these, yuk

There were also 7 sorts of cider to try including a familiar tasting scrumpy and some very good ice cider.  There was a bbq, a scavenger hunt, fresh apple and cinnamon doughnuts,a nature trail and lots of people getting quite jolly from the tasting.  There was even a remarkably Englishy gift shop of the type that you might find in a garden centre, the only thing that really marked the atmosphere out as Canadian was the rock compelation cd that was playing instead of some morris dancing or something (and it wasn't raining).

The herb farm was less interesting (and there was no free booze) but the kids found a good pile of straw to jump off

and these flowers reminded Tom of the Clangers.

Golf

Today was a beautiful day so Jacob redeemed his golfing Grandpa gift certificate. Just like the canoeing we all tagged along in order to avoid any missing out tantrums.  It went pretty well.  Jacob spent most of his time on the driving range with Gary.

And Tom, Rose and I messed about on the practice putting green.

Then off back to Timberwood Trail for bbq supper and pumpkin pie.  Probably a fairly typical Canadian Fall afternoon.

Jack-o-lanterns

Yesterday I scooped out the huge pumpkin I bought on Tuesday and carved a face in it, the whole operation took less than an hour.  Thank who ever's up there that it wasn't the same sized turnip, it would be like being in purgatory and I'd still be working at it this time next year.

For any Canadian readers who don't know this, pumpkins were a little hard to come by in the UK when I was growing up so we made our jack-o-lanterns out of turnips (rutabagas or what I would call swedes). If you have ever chopped one up to cook it you will appreciate that they have roughly the same texture and hardness as cannon balls.

Its always seemed normal to me but Tom thinks its hilarious.  With the benefit of hindsight the vision of small children spending hours/several days hollowing the centre out of turnips with blunt (and often bent when the job was finished) tea spoons to make misshapen, weird looking lanterns for Halloween really puts you in mind of the industrial North of England during its Victorian heyday.  Factory chimneys belching out clouds of black smoke and haggard looking people (possibly called Baldrick) wearing flat caps and rags and eating nothing but potato peelings for dinner.  But no, that's what we did in the 1970s wearing flared trousers and listening to Abba.

I am tempted to buy a turnip and spend a month hollowing it out to show my new Canadian friends just how tough we Brits really are.  You don't build an empire taking the easy way out with ready hollowed out, beautifully shaped, grew that way for your convenience pumpkins.

Anyway, here is the display that Rose and I made this afternoon.  Jacob missed the photo opportunity because he would rather go and play with his friends.  Socialite.

All I said was 'Say pumpkin'

Squash!

Fall is here now for sure, the children are back at school, the leaves are starting to turn and the heating has been activated for the winter (although it was 19 degrees this afternoon so it hasn't actually run all day).  I have begun to put on a scarf to walk to the bus stop in the morning and then forget to take it off until supper time - a sure sign of impending winter.

Halloween is gearing up good and proper too.  The shops are full of tacky dressing up outfits (for children and adults), face paints, trick or treating accessories and  tableware sporting ghouls and pumpkins.  People around this area are very into decorating their driveways and stoops so where ever you look there are spiders, jack-o-lanterns, scarecrows and fall chrysanthemums.  I haven't really been thinking too much about participating, I have pansies on my front porch, but today I was unable to drive past this brilliant roadside stall on the way to Exeter.

that's my truck!

I spent ages choosing, there were so many sizes, shapes and colours, and in the end I spent a mighty $12/£8 (sorry Tom) on these beauties...

Tomorrow I will spend hours arranging them outside the front door and in no time at all they will be nibbled by chipmunks or carried off by cheeky raccoons, but who cares I will enjoy myself immensely.

Finally, here are the children modelling them...

Arts and Crafts

Today we took Jacob over to Grandpa's place so he could test the art kit that he got for his birthday.  Here is the finished product...

Animal TV

Obviously it is foolish to allow Rose to think that she is missing out on anything so I also took an old paint set and some supplies and here is what she produced...

I helped with the pink flowers, the rest is Rose's

Actually she produced 8 paintings In about 2 minutes and I've just put my favourite in.  She is very prolific.

Crafts is a big thing over here, there are supplies for it everywhere and magazines galore about just about everything.  I am currently fascinated by scrap booking.  Previously my idea of scrap booking was to occasionally cut aspirational pictures out of magazines and glue them in a notebook then lose it.  Here it is more of a very elaborate photo journalling system, the variety of patterned papers, stickers, lettering systems and other accessories you can get for it is quite amazing.  You should google it and see for yourself.

At some point I am going to have a go but will need to do a bit more research to do a half decent job.  In the meantime and in order not to be missing out I started messing about with fabric flowers, I think I shall be making my own cards from now on (still can't find any good ones here) so no doubt you shall be seeing these or some very similar in your home very soon.

I wonder when Tom will get the bug and start producing crocheted egg cosies, hand made lace doilies, pine cone animal ornaments or similar?

Mushy Peas III

I am very excited.  I have reinvented mushy peas in a marrowfat pea-less continent.  While I was in Sobeys (mid-high end supermarket maybe like Sainsburys or a posh Tesco) without children on Tuesday I had a really good look at the pulses section in search of something that might be a marrowfat substitute.  I found some dried yellow peas for $1.49/900g that looked about the right size and thought I'd give it a try.  So today I followed the Arnside Big Chip recipe (thank you Big Chip) and it worked a treat, I was gob smacked.  Admittedly they look like slurry but a dash of green food colour would sort that out and they taste great, just the right peayness and a good texture.  Here is the proof...

lovely!

I was intrigued by what a dried yellow pea is so had a quick look online and it seems that it is a yellow pea variety that is allowed to mature in the pod then dried out, much like a marrowfat pea but a different colour.  They are the peas that are split to make pease pudding and I found quite a few recipes from Scandinavia and India that use them a lot.

Sorry, you must be all pead out after that.

Also today was 'meet the teacher night' (obviously this comes second to mushy peas) so this evening we went into school and the children got to show me around their classrooms.  Now I know where Rose puts her coat and shoes, and she showed me the name card that she puts in a little pocket with her photo on to say that she is in school.  Jacob's teacher said he knows when not to talk (?) and asked if she could set him extra maths.  Jacob cheered out loud at this and was genuinely disappointed when I told him that she was joking when she said he would be doing maths for grade 10.

Tired and Snotty

Tired and snotty and looking forward to an early night.  I might be in bed already but Jacob is still messing with felt tips and Rose is lying in bed woofing and neighing very loudly, good job we don't have neighbours.

In the absence of having anything to say here's a picture of the children on the way to the bus stop this morning.

It's just a fashion statement, it really isn't that cold yet.  Good night.

Urgh Colds

Not feeling very inspired this evening, we are currently dealing with the first round of back to school germs and as usual Rose, Tom and I have streaming colds while Jacob seems completely unaffected.  I put it down to his great diet and the immune system boost supposedly resulting from breast feeding (ha ha). I think it is more likely evidence in favour of Dad's theory that there is a direct correlation between the number of washing activities you participate in and the number of colds you catch.

Jacob is really bored of blogging right now and is completely preoccupied with an Internet activity his class have been doing at school.  It's called bitstripforschools and basically is a cartoon building website.  It provides you with the comic strip format, speech bubbles, back drops and props etc, his class have all built little avatars that they use to write stories.  Jacob's is great, he looks like Garth from Wayne's World which is fairly apt and begs the question 'why on earth did he cut his hair?'.

Rose is going through a phase of being 1 step behind everyone else.  She spent our entire weekend away telling us she didn't want to go to a hotel and would like to go home.  On the way back when we said we were going home she cried because she'd changed her mind and wanted to live in the hotel.  Today she didn't want to go to kindergarten but would rather go to 'Tops and Hats' which I eventually figured out was the mums and toddlers group we went to last year.  I think maybe the mucus in her head is altering her perception of time.

Elora Parking Lot

Today we drove home with lots of stops for running about, bathroom breaks, food and just in a vain attempt to keep everyone from getting too bored with a 4 hour journey.

One of our stops was at Elora for a look at the gorge and the touristy shops.  It is lovely, a bit like a compact version of Ambleside or Kirkby Lonsdale but with even more posh gift shops and boutiques.  I would like to go there again someday with no children, and possibly no husband, in order to have a really good look around.  Actually I would have to take a husband in order to make him buy me expensive things that I might feel hesitant about buying for myself.

While we were there we took the kids to the playground where a party of menonites were having a picnic.  I find the contrast between their way of life and main stream North American culture quite amazing.  I think the on-road parking illustrates it quite well and as its not a sight you would be likely to see much in the UK I got Tom to take a couple of snaps on his phone (left my camera in the bottom of a suitcase - durr) and here they are.

Mushy Peas II

I write this in a darkened hotel room in Barrie.  It is 8.35pm and as the hotel was unable to organise adjoining rooms for us with 1 weeks notice Tom and I are confined to separate rooms with a child each and excessive use of light is restricted to before bedtime.  What a way to spend your birthday weekend.  I've not even had chance to eat the birthday cake leftovers that I brought, let alone drink the bottle of wine.

On the way up here last night we stopped for tea in Orangeville for mushy peas.  They were good, but alas I think they might have been too good, they were just not slushy enough and tasted too much like peas.  I think they may have been made with a fresh marrowfat pea substitute.  Still it beat coleslaw on a slighty chilly evening.

Today we have been all over the city.  We have looked at neighbourhoods, been to a giant mall, checked out a vast playground down by the beach eaten out twice and have even been to an open house and met a realtor who may have been ousted from the mob.  Barrie is cold and has more retail than I think I've ever seen in my life.  The houses are big and cheap and there are hills and even more trees than shops.  I think I like it.

Thanks

Thanks for all the gifts, cards and greetings.  Too tired to blog so here is a photo of the flowers Tom gave me to tide you over until next time.  Isn't he good.

Contemplating 40

So Tomorrow I reach the big four zero.  I'm not sure if 'life begins at' applies when you leave starting a family until late, 2 free days a week is a good start but life may really begin at 50.

I decided to see who else is turning 40 this year and found that I am roughly the same age as Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Geri Halliwell - I think I shape up well against them (!?**?).  Actually for any Canadian Trailer Park Boys fans out there I am 2 weeks and 3 days younger than Mike Smith who plays Bubbles, that makes me feel a whole lot better.

I also tried to find out what important events were shaping the world on my birthday.  After extensive research I found these 2 earth shattering facts: on September 13 1972 CBS aired the first episode of The Waltons (does this explain a secret penchant for dungerees?) and I am proud so say that 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' by Slade was at number 1 in the UK singles chart.  That's good enough for me.

Free Time

I am heartily glad that there are no school uniform rules for the kids under 14 in Canada.  I feel that Rose would be creatively crushed by wearing navy blue from head to toe, in fact I'm not sure that I could induce her to do it at all.  At the moment she is experimenting with music festival fashion I think.

just needs wellies and a pint of cider

Today was my first child and worry free day, it was very strange.  This morning I went for a very long walk along the beach, the weather was beautiful and I met only 4 other people in an hour and a half.  It really was lovely but now I have sore feet.

I also went shopping.  I had forgotten what a nice experience a bit of shopping can be without children.  It was odd being able to look at things without answering questions and also to read the labels before throwing unfamiliar items into the trolley whilst fielding questions about electricity, internal combustion, ballet etc then wondering what on earth they were when I unpacked them at home.  I did not have to say 'don't touch that', 'put that down', 'no we're not buying that today' or 'you will have to sit in the car if you do that again' once.  How novel!

Paddle Your Own Canoe

On Sunday Jacob redeemed one of his Grandpa Birthday Gift Certificates and took his first canoe trip.  He seemed to do pretty well and despite our being fairly close to their boat for the entire trip we could not hear his voice constantly echoing along the banks of the Ausauble. We didn't see any wildlife either but that was too much to hope for.  Gary said Jacob talked 'just enough' but he is deaf in 1 ear so maybe he was just facing the other way.

casting off

Since it was a lovely day Rose, Tom and I tagged along

Jacob and Grandpa winning the race

Rose did not seem bothered about not having her own paddle and spent most of her time leaning dangerously far over the side trying to drink the river water.  She says it was fun but she will only participate again of she has a red life jacket with her own whistle on it.

Mushy Peas

Getting good fish and chips over here is pretty difficult, the general concept does not seem to be properly understood.  In a lot of places ordering English style fish and chips will get you these weird shaped battered pieces of fish that have probably been frozen and then cooked in the oven.  We have been to a couple of places that understand how to put a whole fish fillet in batter then deep fry it but they invariably come with thin cut fries and not proper fat chips.

My biggest problem is that I really, really like a good mushy pea.  The side of choice with fish and chips in Canada is coleslaw, actually it's quite a good combination but its not the same.  There is a chip shop in Orangeville (about 2 and a half hours away) that sells mushy peas but that seems like a long trip for a take out.

So I hit on the rather obvious idea of making my own, googled 'mushy pea recipes' and was amazed to find a video of how to make them from The Big Chip back in Arnside.  Hurray I thought here is my answer but it only leaves me with yet another problem of where to buy marrowfat peas.  It seems that the only thing that they are useful for is making mushy peas so you can't even buy the raw ingredients.  My only option is the English Store in London where I can get a 250g packet of Bachelors dried peas for $1.49 imported especially from England.  That's 4 times the price of ASDA. A lesson in appreciating things while you have them and having too much time on my hands with the children at school!

Mad Dogs and Kitchen Dressers

Last night Rose was attacked by mad dogs, don't worry she's ok now.

Today I have discovered some new Canadian furniture terminology.  I have got used to a recliner being called a lazy boy, a 2 seater sofa being a love seat and a large sofa, a chesterfield but now I find that what I would call a kitchen dresser (or a side board with a top bit) is referred to as a "buffet and hutch".  Sounds like it should be out fighting crime in 1970s California wearing a leather jacket and driving a red Ford Torino.  The worst of it is that Tom's family always refer to their china cabinet as the china hutch and I thought it was just a family joke because the china lived in there like a rabbit.  What a twit.

First Day of School

It is over and I have survived Rose's first day of school.  She looked so tiny peeping out of the window of the big yellow bus that I had to go home straight away and not talk to any other parents at the bus stop in case I burst into floods of embarrassing tears.  She bounced off the bus this afternoon and announced that it was "the best day ever" by tea time it was only ok and she was sad because Lillian wasn't there.  Hope it doesn't deteriorate further before Thursday.

As a result of the anxiety of first day of school we now have tidy craft boxes, spotless hard floors, clean bathrooms and even a couple of cleaned out kitchen cupboards.  Didn't manage the oven but Tom had pizza for lunch.

Jacob is now in a mixed class with grade 3 and some grade 4 from the year above him.  He is happy because he has a new planner and not happy because this year there will be homework.  He informed me with a wobbling lip that homework is worse than going to the grocery store.  Blimey, it must be bad.  I wondered if anyone had noticed his hair, he said 1 person had asked if he had had it cut, I hope they didn't ask for the name of his stylist.  The good news on that front is that a letter came home to say that it's school photos in 2 weeks.  What on earth am I going to do with him?

Bonus Post

This will be a very short post in order to put in 2 photos of the playground this afternoon...

Trapeze boy

pensive swinging

And also to relate something truly odd.  This afternoon Jacob cut his own hair????? He has sliced off a big chunk of his fringe almost to the hairline and on a sort of asymmetrical slat, you can just see it on the photo above even when it is upside down.  I'm not sure why, he said he didn't like his hair cut ($20.00 last Wednesday that I thought looked really nice) because it was too uneven.  Its weird because I didn't know that his opinions were that strong and to be honest, I'm still not sure if they are or if he just happened to be in the bathroom with a pair of scissors and thought "Oh what shall I do? I know I'll cut my hair".

I am slightly alarmed at him having scissors that close to his own eyeballs but I am even more alarmed at starting on the "Oh My God What Have You Done With Your Hair" phase at 8 years and 4 days.

School Tomorrow

Today being the first Monday in September is Labour Day here which is like the British August Bank holiday but a week later.  I think it commemorates a big parade in December 1872 when the working man took to the streets to campaign for a 58 hour working week and to free some early union leaders who had been arrested because trade unions were still illegal.  It heralds the end of summer and time to pack up your holiday cottage, say goodye to the beach and stop watching so much holiday fireplace on TV.

Today is also the 67th and final day of summer vacation, school starts tomorrow.  We have managed to keep busy for most of the holiday but if I was just sending Jacob back it would be pure relief at some peace and quiet.  However, I have spent most of today (and last night) worrying about Rose starting Junior Kindergarten.

Rose herself is very excited about it and has been asking when she will start since the beginning of July.  She is super excited about her Dora the Explorer back pack and her Butterfly lunch pail and ballerina food boxes and especially about her shiny new silver trainers and she has been desperate to go on the school bus with Jacob since February.

I have been trying to focus on all the things I can do on my 2 weekly child free days but as most of the things revolve around cleaning right now (my oven is a disgrace and I've not picked up a mop since we moved in) I've been finding it rather difficult and just keep worrying about how she will get on.  When I have finished writing names in clothes, shoes, equipment etc this afternoon I will write a very long list of jobs to do tomorrow or I will spend the entire day mooning around the house going demented over nothing.  Another pang about having no responsibilities might well be on its way.

Birthday Treat?

This morning we took Jacob and 4 of his friends for mini golf and pizza as a birthday treat.  I now feel some very serious pangs about being child free with no responsibilities.

Objectively it is interesting to see group mentality emerging at such a young age, but from a personal point of view I am just happy that they all got back to their parents in 1 piece and now I could do with lying down in a dark room with a cold compress and a very large glass of wine.

No photos I'm afraid as there was not the opportunity.