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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Welcome Back, to Me!

After a few weeks' holiday, I'm back, with a bit more balance. It's one of life's lessons that I have to keep learning over and over again...never quite enough to say I've achieved it, but I'm getting better at it! Highlights of my time "away":

*adopting two kittens, one lovebug and one wild thing. Doolin allows the kids to manhandle her. Camino is chocolate brown, fuzzy, and took a bit of taming. But she's getting there. We all have fine scratches on hands, arms, and legs to prove our love for these new kitties.

*picking up 17 chicks to raise for this year's meat! When they were new and fluffy, I felt a bit sad about the thought of eating them. However, after 2 weeks, they're ungainly and awkward, and their legs are getting bigger, and now I think: Yum.

*happily preparing my classroom. I'm new to Kindergarten, and have spent about 15 hours cleaning, sorting, organizing, and purging. The space is now bright, clean, cheery, warm, open, and alive with colour and plants. I feel wonderful about welcoming my new little students into such a lovely room!

*discovering, in Flavia DeLuce, a new literary heroine. The book is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, and if you haven't read it: do! Flavia is a brilliant, salty, quirky poison-and-chemistry genius and amateur sleuth, and she's only 11! A really great read, and, OH JOY: the first in  a SERIES!

Ooh, this is small and blurry! Pretend you have tears of joy in your eyes and are standing far away.

(photo by AnnaKarolina Conroy)

*celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary by partying in a local barn with friends, performing a few songs together, and spending the night in the most charming cabin...this is where I dressed for our wedding, peeked down at my groom, where we wed in the garden, danced on the lawn to bluegrass music, and spent our wedding night. Lots of reminiscing and planning for the future.

*A second kick-at-the-can summer heat wave, at the very end of August...after some cool weeks it felt like fall was here, but the kids have enjoyed a few more beach days this past week.

So, I'm glad to be back; I missed this space, appreciated all your loving comments, and am grateful to have had a wee break. Watch for a giveaway (to be announced when I get my 100th Follower!), and a peek at the handmades I'm crafting for Christmas!

8 comments:

  1. So glad you're back :)

    Stephanie
    www.simplicitymom.blogspot.com

    P.S. 100 followers! Wow! You are SO popular :)

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  2. Sounds like you had a wonderful break, the anniversary celebration especially. We were going to take a wee trip in September for our 10th anniversary, to stay in a very old log cabin next to a nature reserve...but alas, hubby can't get time off work and so we have to think of some way to celebrate at home.

    Glad to see you back!

    Laura (from Getting There)

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  3. Aside: Laura- one year, my husband and I couldn't afford to go away for our anniversary (tomorrow, btw) so we got someone to watch our children, and set up a tent in our backyard!

    Stephanie- happy to see you back. Although I was very supportive of your taking the time off from your blog, I missed seeing your posts each day!

    Everyone else: let's get Steph to 100 followers!

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  4. Sounds like you've been busy!

    ~Samantha

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  5. Happy to have you back!! I liked Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie as well. I have ordered Thornyhold from the library, so I'll let you know how I like it :o)

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  6. Just to entice you....Bradley's latest Flavia book is now out, called "The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag". I can hardly wait to find out what that title means!!!!!

    And great to have you back re-energized. Glad you took time but glad you are back!

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  7. Looks like you've been having fun!! So glad you are back!

    Warmly,

    Amanda

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  8. Happy belated anniversary! Looks like a wonderful way to celebrate :) I got my package, thank you SO much. I will be offering a giveaway by the end of the month!

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