Wonderful Warm Wednesday

It is sooooo warm and humid today!  I'm sure my garden is loving the rain and the heat and humidity...so is the grass.  I enjoy this weather when the air conditioning is on in the house!  Today we are watching a beautiful little guy named Nathanael.  He is such a sweet heart.  Amber is having fun entertaining him and playing with him all day.  He had a lovely nap this morning, but now she's busy keeping him preoccupied with this, that and the other thing.

We had a lovely leak in the bathroom over a week ago...something caused by an old venting pipe that is no longer in use.  So, the one room that really needed some reno work but has never gotten it yet, is now on the top of the priority list.  On Monday, one of the ALCARE crews came to remove our vanity, cut some holes in the dry wall, remove the wet stuff and put in the giant dehumidifier and blower.  Today another crew came over to check if it is all dry.  Well, the bathroom is officially dry again.  This ALCARE crew just removed the dehumidifier and blower and put some plastic up on the open ceiling so the creatures from the attic don't come down to visit me.  (Not sure if there are any up there right now, but just to be on the safe side...)
Hopefully tomorrow another fellow will be in here to write up a report to send in to the insurance company, and after that they can get to FIXING IT!  We are all using one bathroom in the basement for now.  I'm glad we have a second bathroom...I can't imagine going through something like this without a spare "John".

Anyhoot, it is turning out to be a productive day.  Laundry, babysitting, and even a little baking.  I know, it's crazy to bake in this weather, but the AC is on and the oven was only on for 30 minutes.  I made some yummy boterkoek to be devoured by the gang when they return from school.  (Not sure if that's how you spell it?!)  I made two.  One of them has some pure almond extract in it.  I thought that might taste good, and perhaps the kids won't like that one and there'll be more for Rick!

Well, I'm posting some pics of the latest bloomers in the garden.  I moved and rescued some snap dragons that were planted by the previous home owners.  They were growing in a very precarious location, but now they have a new home and are blooming and looking great. 

There comes some more rain!   Time to go check on the laundry...

Wainfleet Woodpecker

Today Amber and I spent the day in Wainfleet and had the wonderful pleasure of visiting with Grandpa and Grandma.  We also hit the mall for a quick shopping trip with Auntie Cheryl. She had to pick up a suit for Donovan's graduation and also needed to develop a couple very important pictures, so we went along for the ride.  We hit the Bulk Barn and a few other stores, and Grandma bought us girls a lovely orange shirt.  Now I feel ready to cheer on the Netherlands in the World Cup Soccer Tournament!  I can't remember ever owning an orange shirt...well, I really like it!!  ♥ Thanks Mom! ♥

Dad and Mom have some very fun visitors frequenting their bird feeders.  Beautiful finches, chickadees, orioles and even some cute downy woodpeckers, at least I think that's what they are.  It's a toss up...either downy or hairy...we're not exactly positively sure.  At any rate, they are lovely to watch and it was fun to see some birds we don't see around our house.

(Photographer: Margaret Huizinga)

Do Not Worry

We are always trying to pass on our wisdom to our kids. Hopefully the wisdom we pass on to them is God's wisdom. Well, sometimes in our Christian walk we have to learn lessons over and over and over again. Not worrying is one of those lessons. In this house people worry about tests and quizzes and sports games and work and that parent that wrote that nasty email and that boy who stole my hat and that project that needs to be done next week and that giant memory work the teacher assigned and all sorts of things. What happens when we worry? Usually in this house, it means someone can't get to sleep. Tears are often shed. We lay awake for long periods at night and stew things over and over.

What are we trying to learn to do? To trust and obey. To tell God about it and leave it with Him. To do our best and leave the rest to Him. To trust that He has it all under control and has our best interests in mind. To remember the many promises in His Word.

So what did I tell my son today when he was worrying about something? As Mater in the "Cars" movie so aptly puts it..."to NOT to." There's a good reason why we tell our kids not to worry.

What did Jesus say?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Mt. 6:25-27)

The funny thing is, we always realize after the fact, that all the worrying was good for nothing. If only we would do what the Psalmist David said.

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." (Ps. 55:22)

God is busy working on us. Hopefully we see a progression in our faith and trust in His provision for our lives. I pray that we and our children will continue to grow closer to Him and learn to trust and not worry.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but IN EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)

What an awesome thing to experience God's peace. What a gift from above. What a gift sleep is; when you can just rest your head on your pillow and know that God is taking care of it all. When we truly leave it all at the feet of Jesus, He promises to give us His peace. Amazing. God is so good.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)

Tired Tuesday

It was another tiring day at the greenhouse...mind you, not as bad as the past several weeks of packing and shipping, but tiring nonetheless.  I enjoyed a lovely tea outside with Taylor tonight and took a few shots while relaxing and enjoying the singing of the birds.  The weather today was so lovely. 

The cool breeze blowing in the window tonight is so refreshing...it'll be great for sleeping. 

Taylor had a baseball tournament today, and that is the end of sports for the school year. 

Amber has two exams done and two more to go.  She is looking forward to Thursday afternoon when she will officially be finished grade 9.  Wow!  Where did the year go?

City Dwellers

We may live in the city, but we do have our share of wildlife.

This sad, skinny, wet squirrel was sitting on our top step looking at our front door Saturday morning.  I think after all the rain we had on the weekend he was hoping for some sympathy.  I have to admit he does have quite a cute face, but he's really only cute until he digs up all my tulip bulbs...

And yes, our bunny friends keep coming back to see what else they can munch from my garden...

Location, Location, Location

It is common knowledge to those who have even a shadow of a shade of a green thumb, that the proper location of flowers is vital to their thriving...

This is the first year I have had anything in the begonia family at my home, and I have been learning the hard way that they really prefer not to have too much sunshine.  Well, it has taken some trial and error, but I think I have found the perfect place for my hanging basket.  It looks amazing right now and the giant pink blooms are gorgeous.  Here are a few pics so you can see what I mean...

I designed my own planter boxes and wicker hanging basket this year.  All the plants are from Zomer's Geenhouses where I am working.  Lovely to have so much variety at your fingertips...

One final gardening note:

I think I told Rick that my idea to solve my "weeding around the rose bush" woes was going to be to buy some baltic ivy to grow all around under the front window and around the rose bush so I wouldn't have to pull weeds by it any more.  However, I never really got to fulfill that plan...

I weeded the garden after work yesterday, and I was attempting for the second time to weed around our last standing rose bush. (Rick dug the other one out last summer.) There were some giant dandelions growing around it and last time I tried to weed around it I quit after getting a wonderful big scratch down my arm. So, let's just say this last attack by the bush was the final straw.  It got me in the leg! I'm sorry to say that I lost it after that. Rick was busy cutting grass in the backyard, so I didn't even wait for his help.  I went at it with the shovel and it is no longer in my garden. What a satisfying moment to grab it by the roots and throw it into the grass.  It lived a beautiful long life, but this gardener is not going to miss it.

Another crucial aspect of my gardening philosophy is...if you don't like it...either pull it up or DIG IT OUT!

Guess I don't need to buy that baltic ivy.  Then again, I might just put some under there anyways...

Eye Spy a Cardinal

We are amateur bird watchers...not that great at identifying them by sight and even worse at identifying them by their song.  However, I think we have the cardinal call down pat.  They make such a wonderful noise around here.  One evening last week, Taylor and I went to the back yard to find him way up in the top of the evergreen behind our place.  It took a while to locate his exact position, and it was even more difficult to get a half decent picture of him way up there.  He had his backside pointed towards us and he looked down at us once in a while, keeping an eye on us.  So, here's another eye-spy picture to join the growing collection.

Taylor's New Camera

This picture is compliments of Taylor.  She bought herself a new camera and she is practicing her photography skills.  It is the cutest little camera...a bright pink colour...Canon PowerShot SD 1200 IS  "Digital Elph"...for those who are interested.  It takes beautiful pictures for such a little thing.  She is so VERY excited about it.  I'm sure she'll be using it in all her free time and will be capturing all the moments I miss.  (The picture of the car below was taken by me on her camera.  She had it in her purse because we were shopping for a camera case.)

For Grandpa

This one's for you grandpa!  Saw it in the Wal-Mart parking lot!

After The Rain

I love a night-time thunderstorm and love the morning after the storm when the flowers are refreshed and glistening in the sunshine.  Beautiful.  What a wonderful Creator we have!

Schenkies On The Beach

The last weekend of May turned out to be a lovely hot one, so we went down to the beach to hang out for a while, enjoy the sunshine, the cool breeze, and the action on the water.  There were quite a few boats on the water.  Motor boats, sail boats, and a lovely ship went through the Hamilton harbour.  We watched the lift bridge go up and the lovely loud horn that is sounded by the bridge control man made a couple of us jump.  It was a lovely day complete with a little football toss and tanning.

David showing us a replay of his amazing catch...

District Field Day~June 2, 2010

Triple-jump~Love the flying braids!

This year Taylor and Levi qualified to compete at the District Field meet hosted in Burlington at Nelson Stadium.  (Some of us will remember that last year Taylor missed all the track and field days b/c of her concussion.)  Taylor competed in the 1500m, 400m, and triple-jump.  Levi ran the 400m and the 4x100m relay.  Although Taylor did not finish in the ribbon positions, she did run some valiant races and even passed 4 girls in the last 100m stretch of the 1500m run.  She injured her ankle on the triple-jump event, so she did not post her best results on that day.  Dad and Mom were impressed by her determination and desire to do her best, even in the face of tough competition and injury.

1500m~Finish line in sight!

Levi had to wait until 1:30pm for his first event to start, so he had a tough time waiting around being nervous all morning. When the time came for him to run his 400m race, he was ready and flew so fast around the track that he literally blew away the competition in his heat. He finished 3rd over all in the 400m, and his 4x100m relay team came in second.

David and I enjoyed the day cheering on everyone, and Daddy was again on crowd control, trying to keep people off the track when races were in progress. Yes, David skipped school for the day...he was an alternate for ball-throw, so he didn't actually compete, but he was a valuable part of the cheering section.

All in all it was a wonderful day. The weather was lovely, and only the last few relay events were run in the pouring rain. The lightning and thunder kept away until the day was finished, so we were blessed with another memorable day at the track! God is good. It is so fun to watch all those able-bodied, energetic children show their stuff. I am looking forward to next year, DV.

400m (This was around 250m...I was cheering at one side of the track, and Rick was at the finish-line!)