Amazing Book: 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'

This is a fabulous book.  It's about a man who goes to post a letter across the street, but then just keeps walking.  It's all about his trek and how it affects him and others around him.  It's very humorous, touching and insightful.  I love this quote from it:


"He saw that people would make the decisions they wished to make, and some of them would hurt both themselves and those who loved them, and some would pass unnoticed, while others would bring joy." (Harold Fry)

Let's bring joy, people!

Toasted Buns, Anyone?

In an attempt to try something different for dinner, I decided on subs.  I bought large subway buns, toasted them with cheese, and then had options such as meatballs, bacon, sauce and lettuce.  It was a hit!  My one son (eight years old) in particular raved about how much he loved the toasted buns.  Jokingly, I said, "I'll toast YOUR buns!"  He looked at me silently for a minute and then said reprovingly, "Mom, that's offensive."  I'm glad he is starting to understand these concepts, but seriously?  This is a boy who I just caught saying 'mofo'!  He SAYS he had no idea what that meant.  Honestly!

You've Just Got To Laugh! (Or: Having Fun Embarassing Your Kids)

My eight year old son has started walking to school on his own.  He enjoys the independence.  We live pretty close to the school, and he doesn't have to go on any back roads.  The other day I was dropping off his brother when I saw him just ahead, walking toward the school.  I saw him glance back at the car, and then he quickly looked away and began hurrying ahead.  He had seen me, and - shockingly - had pretended he hadn't!  I couldn't believe it, but...it really seemed like...he was ignoring his mother.  Of course that couldn't be right....could it?  Immediately I rolled down the van window and called him, using his favourite nickname, of course.  "Hey!  RY BREAD!  It's your MOTHER!"  He began running away from me.  I leaned out the window farther, yelling, "Come give your mom a BIG KISS!"  It's funny - I've never seen a kid run so fast in my life.  Good times.

Fall Forest Scenes

 

 

 

The forest is fabulous in the fall.  There were so many beautiful leaves, and also tons of fascinating fungus!  It was amazing how many different kinds I saw.  Who knew fungus could be so interesting?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"They Grow Up So Fast!" (says the 6 year old)

My daughter was in a school assembly with her friend.  This friend's younger sister had just started JK in September, and was receiving an award.  As the little girl walked up on my stage, my daughter said to her friend nostalgically, "They grow up so fast!"  And she got a little teary just thinking about it, as did her friend.  These girls - wise beyond their years - at the age of six!

A Manly Scream

My eight year old son walked out the front door, directly into a spider web.  He yelled loudly.

His older brother teased, "You just shrieked like a school girl!"

My son wiped the web off his face and attempted to regain his composure.  "That,"  he replied nonchalantly, "was a MANLY scream!"

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina! Or, Getting Up Close And Personal with a Crab

Have you ever gotten up close and personal with a crab?  I did.  And it happened in Cape Hatteras.  It's a beautiful place in North Carolina.  It's a 15 hour drive from my home in Canada.  And definitely worth it.

We rented a house with friends right on the Sound.  So we had an amazing view every time we looked out the window.  The stars at night were unbelievable, especially from a kayak in the middle of the Sound!  The Sound is very shallow  - even a kilometre out, it's up to my knees.  This is great for the kids.  They can easily swim and kayak.  We also did windsurfing, kite sailing, and paddle boarding.

It's a short walk to the ocean, which the kids also love for building sand castles, playing in the surf, and searching for sea shells.

But back to my friend the crab.  If you go out on the beach late at night, the bigger crabs come out of their homes and are up on the beach by the surf.  When we shone our flashlights on them, mostly they scuttle away.  But some just sit there and look at you.  It was fascinating to see them.  I touched one - I didn't want to scare it - but I just touched it gently and then it ran away.

Another time I had been for a run on the beach (which is hard but I love it), and I almost stepped on a good-size crab.  I bent down for a look, and he came right out of his hole and looked right back at me.  We had complete eye contact, both of us about two feet apart.  That's not something you do every day, either, right?

Now I feel like crabs are my BFFs.  Honestly - I'm not even sure I can eat crab legs ever again!  They are fascinating creatures.  And Hatteras is incredible.  It was a great end to the summer.