Ile des Chenes Winter

Jack Frost has done a good job on our front door.

My bird feeder with a recent visitor.  I'd love to invest in a good long lens to get better pictures of the birds... Some day...

Today's warm temperatures (-5) and the thick hoarfrost on the trees were two good reasons to go for a walk today. 

Seed pods

Probably just in time... when I got back home, the trees in the back were almost clear of the hoarfrost.

In the park behind our place.

MorFar

December 2009

It has been almost as much fun to watch Einar this year as the grandkids. First of all, he is the BEST grandpa (or MorFar, as he is called.) But he's gone through a few changes this year, too.

January 23, 2010 - He grew a beard for Haley's arrival.

July 3, 2010 - His 56th birthday celebration in Gimli - with a very young Josiah.

September - Haley's getting bigger...

November - as is Josiah

Christmas 2010 - Einar's beard is gone. It was too itchy, but apparently he was waiting for permission from me to shave it.

So I offered permission to shave his mustache too, if he wanted to. And he wanted...

My younger-looking, clean-shaven husband. I'm liking it.

A January Project

I'm always up for a new craft.  And since my granddaughter's first birthday was coming up, I thought it was a good time to try making a sock monkey or two.  I bought these two pairs of socks at Mark's Work Wearhouse, because it was such a good sale, and because they were incredibly soft.  Perfect for sock monkeys. 
I was amazed how easy they were to make.  And I couldn't stop with one pair.  Many crafts that I have attempted, such as the Quiet Books, could never be sold for the amount needed to actually make money.  This one could be different. 
So I picked up more socks, and, in my spare time, I sewed. 
I made the above two on Monday.  By Wednesday I had 4 more completed.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Each time I learned something.  The fuzzy socks are a pain to work with - they shed badly (everything in my house is sparkly now) and need resewing in many places after the first wash and dry.  They were a good price at Walmart, but I had to be careful when cutting them, that the heels were where they should be... otherwise the bum didn't end up at the bottom where it belonged!! I had to add an extra bum to one of them! But they are also very forgiving - stitches just don't show.  And they are very soft and cuddly. 

I just couldn't stop.  Which is a good thing because I bought a lot of socks.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

I think #7 is my favorite, even though that's the one with the wonky bum.  I really like #11, too, but it has some wool in it.  Will that be an issue for a children's soft toy?  The real socks for sock monkeys, I think, are the grey men's work socks. That's my #12... further down.  I'm thinking that if I do another craft sale this year, I want to have cards and sock monkeys BOTH.  I think that's an odd combination, but if those are what I do, that should be okay, right?  What would you pay for a sock monkey?  I'd like to price them at $15 each.  Is that a reasonable price?  At that price, it's worth my time to make them since I can do it in my spare time.  I would love feedback on this.

The first 11.

 

My granddaughter got these two yesterday.

12.

The 17% wool sock monkey.

Haley Dawn

January 31, 2011

Haley just turned one this month, and since we had her this weekend, I thought I'd post about Haley for a change... I think I'm always looking for similarities between Kirsten & Haley, and they are there, but Haley is very much her own person!

Haley had no problem being left here. She waved very sweetly when Matthew & Kirsten left, and then a few times during dinner, she looked at the door and waved again. She hadn't forgotten, but obviously trusts them to come back through that door and get her at some time.

She does NOT like sleepers. She can't crawl as well in them, and maybe that should have been a clue. When we put a very tired girl to bed, she fussed. That's normal, and I listened for real signs of distress, but tried to put up with the fussing... I'm a grandma now and that is hard!! I'm sure I picked her up at least once to rock her, and in the end, Einar got her to sleep. Still she woke up a few times fussing. But eventually we also went to bed. At 3:30 she woke us up with her cries, and I just picked her up and took her to our bed. She was very restless for about an hour, so I decided to change her diaper so she'd be more comfortable. That's when I saw that she had somehow wiggled both legs into one leg of her sleeper!! Talk about swaddled! It wasn't painful, but very restricting!! She slept well after the diaper change.

I am making sock monkeys these days, and Haley seems to think they are all for her. That's alright since she has no problem sharing. For a while I was hand-sewing while she sat in the chair next to me and played with books, and then her socks. Pulling them off and having us put them back on was a game to her. But if I'd put down the sock monkeys for too long, she'd make sure to get them and hand them back to me. She knew what my job was!!

She loved the attention from Einar. Much of the day he relaxed on the floor and she crawled all over him. She decided this was the day she'd give kisses, something she hasn't done for a long time. Unfortunately, with her runny nose, they weren't as welcome as they usually are. But somehow the two of them made a game of it. Whenever she could get one of us to walk her around the house, she was quite happy. She loves to walk, holding our hands, and doesn't tire easily. We went to the mall to get a few errands done. Haley loves the mall because there's so much to see, and so many people. But she was happiest there when I let her walk and push the stroller. The stroller we have is not made for this, so it wasn't easy, but she doesn't give up easily.

She was so cheerful all afternoon that we debated whether she needed a nap or not. We didn't want to put her down while she played so nicely, but in the late afternoon, when I left the room for a bit and she cried and cried and wouldn't be consoled - even though she was with Einar at the time - Einar picked her up, gave her the soother and her stuffie that she takes to bed, and she was asleep in his arms almost immediately.

Haley is not a difficult child. She will eat most anything, is happy and content most of the time. But she knows what she likes and what she doesn't like. And she will let you know. She'll reach out her hands to come to you, or push you away if that's not what she wants. She's not talking yet, but understands everything, and will copy most any noise you make... or at least try. Besides MaMaMa and NoNo, I did notice other sounds that resembled words, but they aren't clear enough yet to know if she knows what she's saying. She uses signs for food and drink, and those are very clear.

Saturday night she slept from about 9:30 to 7ish - a very good long sleep. We had to pick her up from her morning nap to take her to church. She was so good in church - either snuggling with us, or watching the little boy behind us, or just sitting and eating her cheerios and dried cranberries. We stayed at church for lunch, and she was so loud during lunch. To us it was quite funny because she's not normally loud. But when she was done eating and starting to fuss, I took her out of the high chair and she willingly lay down in my arms and fell asleep. Must have been very tired.

November 1983

Mom sewed the dresses the girls are wearing.

November 7

Abe & Debbie have been here since last Tuesday and we've had a good time with them.

On Friday, Kirsten and Mark were outside talking and waiting for Abe to take them to the schoolgrounds to play, when Kirsten fell and cut her lower lip on some bricks. We rushed her to the Doctor and he gave her 6 stitches.

It is quite badly swollen and she's got a few ugly blisters in her mouth too. But she's been excellent - never complains even when she can't open her mouth very wide to eat or talk. I have to take her to the dentist yet and see what damage has been done in her mouth.

Rachel just got over the croup. She was sick the whole time Abe & Debbie were here, but yesterday afternoon she was her old self again - giggly and silly. She gave herself a haircut about a month ago and it still looks so scraggly. Maybe a hairdresser could improve it somewhat. I should see.

Rachel loves to ask questions - such as "Are you a lady, Mommy?" "Is Daddy your husband?" She just loves to argue and often does it just for the sake of arguing.

November 12
Kirsten has been to the dentist now. Her mouth healed beautifully - if there's a scar it won't be very big. The dentist thought Kirsten's teeth would straighten themselves out and it looks like they are. But no more thumb-sucking. I told her on the way home and she was sad. She asked why and I explained about crooked teeth and braces. She thought for a minute and then said, "Ok, Mommy, I won't even suck my thumb at night." And she doesn't. She is so good!

November 17
Angela was here overnight. She and Rachel are both up and Rachel is singing to her, "My God is so Big." They learned a cute little rhyme in Children's Church which both Rachel and Kirsten love to say:
"I'm all made of hinges
And everything bends
From the top of my head
Right down to the end
I'm hinges in front
I'm hinges in back
And if I wasn't made of hinges
I would surely crack."

November 23
Kirsten seems to have lost her appetite for TV. She spends her time drawing and printing her letters. She never asks to have the TV on but I think it is because Einar has put it up high, so she just doesn't see it or think of it.
Rachel & I both have croup, I think. I can't talk very well today. If I don't feel better this afternoon, I won't go to work tomorrow.

Nipawin Visit Part 2

My barrette-making factory on Mom's table. The girls will remember the lacy barrettes that were 'in' for little girls back then. I sold a bunch on consignment to a shop in Nipawin. It's a bit difficult to see the lacy barrettes on the lace tablecloth...

More letters to Einar:
Wednesday, August 10
We just got back from spending an hour at the fair. It is quite a bit fair but it wasn't that great. Kirsten wanted a merry-go-round ride and cried through the whole ride.
(Note: I remember this so clearly... except I remember it as a high ride, and Mom & I stood on the ground and cried while we watched and tried to console Kirsten, and they wouldn't stop the ride, though I think he did shorten it a bit for us. A bunch of blubbering women probably wasn't good for business.)
Then she didn't want any other rides (even pony) but as soon as I gave our tickets to Dan, she wanted to go in the house of mirrors with me so I had to ask for them back. That she enjoyed... Kirsten wanted to go in a 'ballroom' similar to Ikea's but it was right across from a haunted house with awful noises and none of us wanted to stick around there.
We watched the fireworks though tonite and they were sure nice. The girls enjoyed that! The parade this morning was really nice, too. there were some vintage cars and trucks, quite a few horse teams, a team of oxen, a bagpipe band, besides the regular floats. Some threw candy and balloons so the girls got a bit of candy and a few balloons. One time the candy all landed on the road so Grandpa took the girls to pick it up. He is so proud to be seen with the girls.
Tonight we were at Dan & Norma's with Mom & Dad. Marcia just loves the girls. She'll pick Rachel up - and while Rachel is telling her to put her down - she wants Mommy - Marcia will just carry her outside and play with her. Of course, once Rachel is outside she's fine. She enjoys it. As long as she can see Mommy, she wants Mommy.
Rachel's nighttime prayers are something else! "Thank you God that the sunshine,... Marcia play with me,... Kiki sleep with me" (each ... equals at least one "Thank you God that) "... pretty lights in sky, ... Mommy carry me,... Grandpa carry me,... Grandma carry me, ... something to eat,... I like oranges,... I like apples,... Mommy cut a apples for me,... Daddy cut a apples for me,... Auntie Sue cut a apples for me and for Kiki,........ I think you get the picture - forever and ever Amen.
This is the third night Rachel's gone to bed without a spanking. The secret seems to be to let them stay up so late that she's too tired to get up. The heat helps to tire them out. Sometimes I resent having to spend evenings with the girls, but Mom is right. They'll grow up fast enough. They aren't young very long.
I miss you, Einar. I hope you'll be able to come and get us next Wednesday, Kirsten was so excited when I told her that Daddy would be at the airport to meet us. She'll be glad to get back home. She really misses you.


Sunday, August 14
Yesterday I went with Mom & Dad to Jerry & Lois. The girls had someone to play with so they were very happy. The afternoon passed quickly.
We went to Jerry & Lois's church this morning and I met a few people I know. After church Jerry & Lois, the kids and I came to Winnipeg. We went out for lunch with Eunice & Richard. It ended up being a cheap lunch for me because it was a $4.95 brunch - kids under 10 were $2.95. The waiter looked at the girls for a minute and then said "I'll forget about the kids." So I didn't have to pay for them! We went to Eunice's for a while, and then we went to Old Market Square. Eunice & Richard went to the Planetarium and we went swimming. Jerry & Lois go every Sunday evening in winter. Kirsten, of course, loved it. Rachel didn't even like it when I got her toes wet. But gradually she let me get her a bit wetter. We were there two hours and by the time we left, Rachel was standing on the side and jumping in! I caught her but she got all wet first. She loved it. Both girls cried when we left.
Kirsten was so hyper in the pool. She was blubbering, shivering and giggling all at the same time. She loved it! But she got too much. (Jerry had either one or the other girl most of the time and they loved him.) We went out for supper. I ordered the girls a hot dog and Kirsten complained of a somach ache. I told her to just leave her food then and she fell asleep right there in the booster seat. Jerry took her and held her until we got to Eunice's again. Kiki really misses you, Einar. Jerry was good for her though, cuz he's a lot like you.


I don't seem to have any journal or letter about visiting Dorothy & Isaac in Morden, but we did go there as well, as the pictures indicate. Kathy had a doll that was bigger than Rachel, and it was funny to see Rachel cart it around.

Nipawin Visit part 1

Friday, August 5, 1983

Dear Einar:

I must take a break from eating saskatoons! We were at Gordon & Lois's today (Dad, Kiki & I) and Lois, Glynis, Dad & I went picking. The bushes were just loaded!...

... When we arrived at the park this afternoon Rachel claimed she saw you. I told her you weren't coming and she said, "No. Daddy at work." Later on though, she trotted off to find you. I guess she thought that since this was a park, you'd be there working somewhere.

Kirsten went to bed so nicely tonite. At 8:30 I told her that since she wanted to go to DVBS with Lois and the kids tomorrow, she should really get to bed. She just trotted off downstairs and crawled into bed. She's looking forward to tomorrow. She and Joel seem fast friends already, even though up to this afternoon she was calling him "the little kid that's Auntie Lois's."

Neither of the kids have had to get to know Mom & Dad again. In the car coming here, Kirsten sat on Mom's knee for a while and talked and talked. She didn't need any prompting.... Rachel really loves Dad, but I think she knows she has a lot more power with Mom. I was going to say she has Mom wrapped around her finger but that isn't quite the case. But she does get away with a lot with Mom. Mom rocked her to sleep last night, slept with her this afternoon, etc.

Sunday, August 7

Kirsten was up first this morning. Today was a beautiful day - weather wise. It was sunny and warm - not hot. After lunch Marcia came over and she and Kirsten played all afternoon. Kirsten went with them to church in the evening. Tonight was the DVBS closing service. Kiki sat on her teacher's lap until the younger kids were sent back to their parents.

... Now it looks like we'll be going to Manitoba on Friday. I'd probably stay at Eunice's...

Kirsten just crawled into bed with me. I let them stay up later tonite - put them to bed around 10 or later. Rachel didn't get up once! It's 11 pm now so Kiki came to me. As soon as she's asleep, I'll carry her back.

Kirsten has missed you today. She said she wished Daddy could be here with us and then we wouldn't miss anybody. After she'd thought about it though, she said she also missed her friends in Squamish and Bestemor, So I'm sure the girls will be more than willing to come home when the time comes. Kirsten isn't the only one who wishes you were here...

Monday, August 8

I spent a few hours at Diane's this morning, and Kirsten played with Carmen almost all day. Kirsten has been playing so nicely with Carmen, Marcia and Joel. She's really grown up since last time we were here.