September 30, 2011

Happy Harvest!

The first time on the combine is a very sacred and special time for little (and big) people in our family.  It is a right of passage without a doubt.
My parents are proud third generation farmers... and way back when, my Great Grandfather, ANDREW, was a pioneer in the area.
Farming is a tough business but an amazing way of life.  It is our heritage.

I'M PROUD TO BE A FARMER'S DAUGHTER!

Yesterday Andrew spent some time going around & around & around with Grampa and Grama.  I suppose to the average person that is how it appears, but driving the combine is a pretty crazy skill, those machines are high tech and so complex. The John Deere's of today that are found on our family ranch are complete with guest seats, kick ass stereos, and GPS. Yes, GPS!  Riding in luxury of course isn't cheap!$

Loading up!

Enjoying the view

Such a natural
 
Testing the buttons.
 
Driving!
  
This is Deere country!
 
Making sure the hopper isn't full! (the hopper  holds the grain)
 
Round and round we go.
  
  
Driving and using an iphone?  GRAMA!!!
 
Watching the canola unload.

Oh what a fun day.  There will be more combing days ahead for the Bean!





September 27, 2011

Melissa's Unplugged!

No camera.
No phones.
No baby.

Just me and my runners!
I forgot what that was like...
We were really UNPLUGGED, at least for the 1:50+ it took me to run the race (I'm too shy to tell you my actual time - SIGH).

We packed up and went to Banff for the Melissa's half marathon.  It was slow and steady but it was breathtaking.  It is crazy to know we live so close to such an amazing playground.  Good grief!
First time doing this race in 3 years.  Missed it once for a friend's wedding, once for no good reason, and once while waiting for the arrival of the wee Bean!

I ran and ran and ran.  I ran my heart out.
I have no photos to prove it, or mark the amazing mountain fall that hugs Banff.
Just trust me.
I ran!
That city is so beautiful this time of year.  It was full on summer but fall brings so much excitement about the winter ahead in Banff.  SKI HILLS are opening soon, yes soon.  You can honestly feel that vibe.  Maybe it is just me, but I sense it every fall in Banff. All the TOTALLY NARLY DUDES come out of the woodwork in anticipation for the super sick POW POW that is just waiting to blanket those big shinny rocks.  I'm not rushing winter, we all know it is my least favorite... I'm just sayin.

It was the first time I'd ever ran this race in 30 degrees, it is always chilly and fresh and involves down vests and fuzzy sweaters.  Not this year my friends,  HOLY SMOKES!  What is with me and hot races this year?  WOWZA.

So I ran and sucked back the beautiful fall sights and smells.  It wasn't just another run in the park for me.  Each run I do now is cherished and appreciated, as it is just so much harder and more work to get out for them now.  So to pack up the family and head to the mountains just to do a run may seem crazy to some but it involved Tim Horton's, the chocolate shop, and some Led Zeppelin drivin tunes... Darcy is always game for those!

The course circles the Fairmont golf course.  Did you know Marilyn Monroe golfed there way back when?  YUP! It goes up and down and around and around.  Pat pat pat, just the sound of feet ahead and behind me.

It was like a bit of a chariot convention there, how did I never notice that before?  So many families sporting chariots filled with snacks to keep the old and young people happy.  Kids were clapping.  Kids were crying.  Kids were loving the mountain smells and all the amazing happy happy things that go along with the race environment.

I love to run.
I just can't deny it.
Melissa!  It was so great to see you again.
See ya next Sept!

September 16, 2011

FRIDAY Favorite!

PHONE PHOTOS!
Everyday he gets more handsome.  Wouldn't you agree?
He eats rocks.  He spits out rocks.  He eats grass.  He swallows grass.  What can I say, it all comes "out" in the end right?  This week we've made ventures into adventures.  We've crossed over a few mega road bumps but we are cruisin now.  Friday is a wonderful day.  We had tea parties with amazing friends.  So thankful for my friends.  We shared emotions and visits from Grama.  We cuddled bunny and tankie and had a bath outside in a big tupperware bucket, just because we CAN!  We welcomed back chore hat and took him on a few morning runs.  Yeah for fall morning runs. We look forward to a few kisses with a friend's new mini this weekend and a whole lot of bacon and eggs while sipping our BFF TIMMY! Our family is so in love with Timmy! 
We are embracing the last days of summer/fall, whatever you want to call it,  we are just embracing and lapping it up.  Today brings a big boy milestone, Andrew stood for a really loooooooooong 30+ seconds all on his own.  Then a big scary meltdown followed when he figured out Mumma wasn't holding his hand and counting 1 & 2, 1 & 2 (that is our cue for move those piggies).  Ahhhh the walk is around the corner, I sense it.... but we will be saving that adventure for another day (Mumma hopes).

Peace and hugs your way.
HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!






September 11, 2011

9.11

Today has come.
Today has almost left.
I woke up thinking about 9.11.  All day it has been on my shoulder.  Seems so hard to understand and feel for others that have dealt with such extreme tragedy.  We say we understand and are sorry for their losses but it really is hard to truly feel for all those families. And there were so many families.

I've watched programs on 9.11 this week and thought so many times how I'd explain this to Andrew.  Eventually it will come up, it has to doesn't it?  How can you shield little people from something like this?
But how do you explain it?

I remember that day.  I remember it clearly.  I remember where I was sitting in my office tower downtown. I remember the tea cup and Earl Grey that filled that cup and how it was luke warm.  I remember the small radio I had in my office that my Grampa Patrick gave to me, it was always stuck on CBC, that day, after 7:00 am it went crazy with the reports over and over and over.  ALL DAY LONG. I remember feeling afraid to leave my office, like it had been our building that was hit. I remember knowing that it was a world away, another country, another city, but knew it could also be in the building across the street.  I remember.

I walked the halls at Canadian Hunter asking people what the hell was happening.  A lot of us did. Within minutes a few of us made our way to the Marketing floor to find the TVs.  We stood and stared and watched them fall.
Tears.
Breathless.
Heart pounding.
Pain.
I'll never ever forget it.
Oh my god!

At 27 years old, the world seemed a really really huge place.  My naivety had me thinking it was huge, but at peace, at least on "our" side of the world. Yes there was drama and hardship all around us by how could this have happened?  Why would anyone anywhere ever ever think this needed to be done? Was this real, or was CNN just making it all up?

The days went by.  I remember closing my eyes and the news reports played over in my mind.  You know, like when you've watched a scary film that freaked you out.  It was in fact, a horrible film, it just wasn't out of Hollywood.  Those reports reeled over and over in my brain for weeks.
The weeks went by.
Many September 11ths passed.
2002, 2003, 2004
2007
2008
2009...

I now have my own family and can't for a second imagine having to explain to Andrew that Daddy was never coming home.  Or the days that would follow without him.  I know none of us can.  But many families did.  Today, while watching the memorial services I realized some families lost 2, 3, 4 members.  Mom's Dad's Aunts Grandparents and even little people.  My heart just hurts for them.

Today I hugged the wee Bean a lot more.
Today I reminded myself of what is important.

We were all affected.  Our world is a different one now.  How could it not be?  It is just so sad.  I can't seem to find another word that fits. Just SAD.

I believe our world is full of more good than bad.  It has to be doesn't it?

It happened in an entirely different phase of my life, but it really feels like it was "just yesterday".

"Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?" (Alan Jackson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW8puRqE4Sc&feature=related

Peace...


September 10, 2011

Smiles...

My Mom always says... "SMILE and the whole world smiles with you.  CRY and you cry alone".
I think it is safe to say there are a lot of smiles in this great big world.


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