I Spoke Too Soon ( or: Blame Me For The Bad Luck)

So, while yesterday we found these, and earlier, these. And enjoyed the heck out of the day even though it was cooler than usual and blustery and overcast.

I mean, this has been the last few days:

Who would've thunk...

... SNOW?!?!

Obviously someone wasn't knocking on wood enough around here.

Too Much White Stuff, Not Enough Green

I'm totally cheating today. Just fyi.

There is no green. There is only white.

White white and more white.

I'm sick of white.

So here's the only green I can find.

At least, the only green you'll want to see from me.

I can't forget the pretty little flower pots from way before. The tulips have wilted into yellow mush. Not so green now. But they were green then.

So these photos are not taken recently. Because? We are so OVER snow stuff.

Birthday Madness, Part 1

Early this morning, a small quivering shivering warm body crawled into my bed for "snuggles".

"I don't know what to do," he said. "I'm just so ... happy... that I'm five."

I looked at the clock. "Yep, birthday boy. You turned five half an hour ago."

**************************

5:29 am, a magical morning following a very clinical night full of doctors and nurses and various other medical staff, employees, various trainees and paramedics (I'm sure the custodians were there, too) all crowding in the "birthing room" of the hospital, excited and chattering and milling about... there because it was a "textbook birth". They were so thrilled, they had all the trainees and at least one administrative executive present to witness the momentous event. I was thrilled I had half the population of the city in front row seats to my cooch.

But then he was born, all 7 pounds, 8 ounces of squalling red flesh, and the rest was put aside. Top-notch apgar and reflexes up the ying-yang. He was a bundle of happiness and nummy little baby parts, but mostly of what-do-I-do-now-ness.

**************************

Today, he's still exceeding expectations.

The doorbell rings... we run to answer with smiles on our faces. The first of our guests arrive. And they arrived in amazing syncronicity. Punctuality is very much the rage here. Bam bam bam! They came at once: eleven excited eager little bodies ready for birthday fun. Canny, some of the parents declined to stay and partake of the ensuing mayhem.

We planned for lunch, cake, gifts and games. The havoc and chaos quickly commenced, and I can assure you, I have little understanding of how the day unfolded.

Today was not a day of reflection and basking languidly in the moment of birthdayness joy, as last year was. The moments for holding and squeezing and giving birthday snuggles would have to come later, after the din died down and peace once again reigned. No, there was little reflection and absolutely no basking. The cats were sent forthwith to the basement to escape the raucous horror that would otherwise await them. Doors were closed off, barring particular portions of the house from the celebratory fervor -- with the one exception of a baby and mom needing some quiet feeding time. That's allowed.

They arrived at noon with gleams of childish joy in their faces. They moved in constant splashes of color and noise. They smiled big smiles and cackled constantly. They TOLD ON EACH OTHER.

"We're staying til supper!" One little guest excitedly proclaimed as she bounced erratically through the living room.

Racing from room to room, upstairs downstairs upstairs downstairs upstairsdownstairs they yelled and screamed and laughed. In the kitchen, preparing lunch and the other festivities, the reality hit me of what I had gotten myself into. I was hosting a 5-year-old's coed birthday party.

I might have whimpered "Hold me." No one did.

As with the birthing of this precious boy, his fifth birthday passed in a blur of faces and sounds that blended screaming laughing yelling singing. Cake - amazing dinosaur vignette cake - featured a key moment in this celebration. And there were several other moments from today that, upon quiet time to recover and relax, I just might remember.

I expected a celebration. I expected joy and laughter for him. He just might have gotten it.

Right now I have only snapshot memories of today. And that might be a good thing.

Missing: SPRING. Reward Offered.

Following a theme of ever-grey days with grey skies and snow on the ground and more snow in the offing... swirling around as I write this on a very VERY long day... I'm forcing spring.

Well, more the IDEA of spring. And by that I mean trying to ignore the fact that spring is yes indeed just around the corner but we're not going to get any of it here until August or Armageddon, whichever comes first. I'm putting money on Armageddon.

Without further ado, my attempt to imitate, if not force, the idea of spring.

sooc:

edit:

I would say if you want to know what I did, here it is:

But then I realized that little screenshot doesn't show the opacity levels or what filter or what the heck that black screen with a white dot and vice versa is or what in squirrel-heaven I did in the levels layer and gosh-darnit! I'm so tired tonight after a day full of "please be quiet" (from me) and "go to your room" (also from me) and "oh no you di'int!" (NOT from me). So you'll excuse me if I just let you experiment with your layers.

Or you can ask me to tell you.

I just might let you know. Tomorrow.

**************************

Taken with my Canon Rebel XSi, and edited with PS Elements.

Waiting On Spring

Winter light -- or lack of light -- doesn't lend well to photographing anything related to spring. I need fill light... reflected light.

Taking matters into my own hands means being creative. (Not my regular state of being.)

It also means being cheap and lazy... to lazy to go anywhere to get real tools and also, too cheap to get real tools.

Lack of light leaves the focus a little less than what I'd like. But isn't that my usual complaint?

sooc

Also, a boy getting himself in the photo when I'm trying to be all serious and committed to the image.

sooc

Being a photographer is a lot of hard work. I've found that it's a lot harder than it looks to capture (or create) a really good image.

It's difficult to see things a new way.

sooc

And it's particularly difficult to see spring on a -24 celsius March morning.

Selfie Shoot - This one is just going to have to be artsy.

I never thought I would do this.

I don't like doing this.

I planned on another photo... a cute photo... a photo of a cute couple I know.

And then I got curious and tried this.

I don't take self-portraits. Ever. This is very unusual. I prefer being behind the camera taking pictures of pretty things.

I guess this will be an artsy-fartsy photo instead.

In The Pink

Another week. A new start. A breath of fresh air.

The sun and warm streaming in through my windows foretell a spring that is not yet here. Not at -24 celsius, that is.

However, it is in my best interests -- and mental health -- to think of spring. After all, Sherwood Park Shermon (a groundhog of GroundHog Day) did not see his shadows, so spring cannot be far behind. Can it? Although, Balzac Billy (another one) DID see his shadow. Geographically we're right in the middle between those two towns, so it could go either way for us.

Pink is nice.

Pink is spring.

Floral pink sets the mood for the day.

I choose to focus on the fact that spring is coming and on it's way, although I currently have a dozen containers of colored water freezing on my back deck that say otherwise. It's a crazy world.

************************************

Another Chance To Complain... Yay!

This has been one of those weeks. It's been rough. Without going into boring details, let's just say it has to do with more than one person being sick with a cold that's heading into the seventh week, chronic pain and fatigue. And shoveling. Too much shoveling of snow, which of course contributed to at least one of the above mentioned details I'm not mentioning.

Ayanna knows how I feel.

Oh yes she does. She commiserates. It's very helpful actually to have such an empathetic cat.

"Only the floor understands me." Oh. That's not what I meant, Ayanna.

Today is a day of taking it easy. (Hah! Somebody tell my four year old what that means. Please.)

I don't know what we'll do with the day: the temperature is rapidly dropping from just around freezing and will hit -17 by this afternoon. (Also contributes to what I didn't mention above.) It's a lot of fun.

In the meantime, I guess there'll be some game playing, some tv or movie watching, a trip to the library for story time, and the ever-present Ninja Eyes will be made from time to time with berry-stained hands. (Please don't ask about the hair-clip.)

It's all about the planning.

Morning Sky

After what seems a thousand years of cloudy grey skies and snow accumulating (it doesn't really fall gently in an artistic fashion so much as it is just there) and too cold to really make an effort to do anything... wait... where was I? Oh yes. Complaining about winter. So, the same as usual.

However this morning gifted me with a break in the clouds (before it started snowing heavily again like a .... never mind) and some beautiful light strewn in to boot.

Nothing says morning like the morning. You know?

Also, if you're a photo geek (like me), here's another look at my morning:

Also? Go here to see more morning. Because you can never get enough.

Keeping My Sanity

This is the main reason I'm keeping my sanity right now:

I think it's significant enough to share it with other parents. It's worth the time to read it. And that's all I have to say about that.

Alien Snowmen Came For Christmas

I wish I could write something witty, but I haven't had enough to drink tonight. I can't bring myself to be sarcastic, because I'm actually feeling somewhat connected to the universe. Or... I was until I had a few drinks.

I'll leave you with this until next time. (See Rudolf looking disapprovingly, as well as a bit bemused, at our creation?)

It would make a great headline: "Alien snowman invades Canadian Christmas!" or something better because the people who write headlines are paid to write good ones, not like me sitting here not having had enough to drink and unable to come up with anything remotely interesting let alone attention-grabbing.

But making these alien snowmen was fascinating. Here's a hint for your future treat-making endeavors: don't put food coloring in the Rice Krispie treats... it makes them smell like unwashed feet and taste even funkier (not that I would know, personally) .... and you're never going to get the color right.

This was our attempt at red. We used most of the bottle of color.

And I didn't adjust the saturation in this photo.

AND this monstrosity is still sitting on my counter because my little alien-maker isn't ready to throw it out. He insists he's going to eat it. But... it has yet to be eaten. He can't seem to make himself do it. I don't blame him... the thing is sagging off to one side and looks like it's going to ooze onto the floor and scurry out the door.

Great. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Happy holidays, folks.

Sweet Mischief

I'm in a grump. A real big grump. It's about my camera. I'm falling out of love with it.

I used to love taking pictures and lately... not so much. You see, it's the focus. Or me. I think I broke the focus. Awhile back my photos were all coming out with a soft focus. I couldn't get that clear sharp edge. I studied the manual. I studied the internet. I thought I was doing everything right. Then I figured out that the camera needed adjusting. Off it went to the camera shop, and presto-changeo... a mere three weeks later (or an eternity to me), the focus was adjusted and my sharp clear photos were back.

I think I bumped my camera again. Soft focus is back. Blur is back. Either that or I need contacts or new eyeballs.

I don't even feel like using my camera now, but I'm still trying to overcome this new obstacle. It helps alot that Ayanna is very sweet. And mischievous. (See the ornament in the background? The one on the floor, not where it's supposed to be.)

But then she gives me this look and I can't scold her.

I'm a sucker, I know.

**************************

Taken with my Canon Rebel XSi, and edited with iPhoto.

Mean Eyes

We made gingerbread cookies.

You-know-who wanted to decorate some.

Hmmmm....

... the "mean" face...

Should I be worried?

Something To Complain About! Yay!!!

Tired.

So tired.

Actually this goes beyond tired. It's spaghetti legs and jelly arms and all sorts of other random invertebrate-ness. (And it's actually not metaphorical, this time.) It's real. And not fun.

My muscles are useless. Why am I so tired and fatigued at times? (Not all the time. Sheesh.) The only position that's comfortable is the lying down position. Oh yeah, and the don't-ask-me-questions-you-already-know-the-answer-to position, along with the please-dress-yourself-because-you're-4-years-old and let's-not-play-chase-today positions. And let's not forget the classic please-listen-to-me-when-I'm-talking-to-you and what-did-I-just-say? stances. Those are my particular favorites.

Oh, it feels good to complain! I feel so much happier now. Seriously.

My house is too big, I'm too beautiful and I have too much money

See? I told you!

Lots to be happy about today.

My house is too big: Did you know that it's completely justifiable to be really bitchy on the phone to the mortgage people when you call in to find out the payment schedule and they try to verify your identity by asking for the payment schedule? And then they refuse to talk to you, because they "cannot verify" you? Yes, it is. Please, go forward with this knowledge and if you have any complaints about your... um, well, complaints... send them to me and I'll back you up. Completely justified, I tell you!

Also, on a related topic, did you know that multiple NSF charges on your chequing (or checking, for my American friends) account don't count against your credit rating? That's awesome. For me, anyways. (At least, until your account is shut down from too many. But that's NOT me. To be clear.)

I'm too beautiful: Wearing between SPF 55 and 70 is very good for me, and I haven't had a sunburn in years. Freckles are another matter, however. I've always hated them. But, as I was applying sunscreen on my son's face this morning, all up-close-and-personal, he says, "I wish I had freckles; they're so-o-o-o cute!"

I have too much money: There was change left after buying bananas this morning, and I'm teaching my son about counting money. We're getting nowhere with it, but hey, I have some to count and that's the important thing. (Of course, it's not in my chequing account where it's supposed to be, but tomato - tomahto.)