Be it ever so humble...

Home again. Another wonderful day today- we dropped C off at the airport this morning and then headed home- kind of. There were a few diversions and side trips- to see a nice church that we spotted from afar, to have lunch in the Fairmont Montebello (best seafood chowder I've EVER had), and more lovely shoppes. And yes, I made more purchases. I got a pair of earrings to perfectly match the necklace I got for the wedding I have in a few weeks (might be good for the tiki party too), and a wicked awesome picture for my future living room. I still can't really believe I bought it- I'm not one to spend that kind of money on a decoration, and I'm still not really sure where I'll keep it safe until I have a place to hang it, but I just had to get it. Just as I thought, hubby loved it. It has the look of all those painters he really likes- Monet, Renoir, etc. He said it could inspire a whole book it's so great. I done good, he said. :)

All in all, it was a great weekend- we will be doing it again for sure. Our next plan is for September. A weekend at S's place in Brantford- lots of lovely cooking and a day in Toronto followed by a show. Much as I hate leaving my family, I'm counting the sleeps already...

C'est si bon. I think that should be our motto.

It's so good.

What a lovely day. It was cold and rainy, but wonderful nonetheless. A carriage ride around old Quebec City. Quaint shoppes. French onion soup (again). Lovely purchases. Planning the next trip over a glass of wine. What could be better? The fact that it's not done yet- we're going to look at our digital pictures on the TV, have a glass of wine and watch yet another chick flick.

I love it when the hardest decision I have to make all weekend is whether to watch "Sabrina" or "An Affair to Remember" (both the old versions). C'est si bon.

Je me souviens.

Translation- I am a souvenier. Who knows what that Quebec license plate tag really means? We had a lovely drive today, complete with a ferry ride in full view of the Chateau Frontenac. We are in a lovely little apartment in old Quebec- the closest to Paris I will probably ever come. Had french onion soup for supper- very good, and am preparing for wine and bagette this evening.

Mom gave me (all of us) a WillowTree figuring of Mother and Daughter and a card that had me weeping. Mushy things that a mom thinks of her baby, and a bit about how I remind her of the Poverbs 31 woman. That, to me, is staggering. I have always looked at that woman and thought her character unattainable. To think I remind my own mother of her is so meaningful to me. I will treasure both the card and the figurine.

Off to watch an old movie with my sister-friends.

Random thoughts

J is quite despondent this morning. We took Maximus in for his declaw this morning (in the best interest of our trailer) and he has to spend the night. You'd think we were never going to see him again. It's strange, but J didn't seem this upset over Enzo dying in the fire. Maybe it's just deferred pain or something. He's a little better now, but he cried all the way home from the vet's. Who knows, maybe he's thinking something will go wrong and we won't get to see Max again either.

This weekend will be fun- another one away from my boys, which I usually don't enjoy, but this sure will be an exception. How many grown women can go away with their 3 sisters and their mom and truly be looking forward to it? We are so blessed. The fact that I can shop guilt free sure doesn't hurt either! I'll have to look for a recipe box to house the new recipes that B2 and S gave me.

Well, off to do some lessons with the boys as they will be having the day off tomorrow- fun day with dad and the cousins. Ah, to be a kid again...

Feeling loved

I know most people don't like uninvited guests, but there are a few souls whose surprise visits bring me much delight. One such visit happened today when B2 arrived totally unannounced (all the more special because she NEVER comes without calling first!). She never seems to stay long, but we are always very pleased for a visit from her and the saplings.

Today the visit was especially brief, as she was off to run several errands. It was deemed necessary, however to stop by with some unique housewarming gifts for us in our new trailer. It's the going joke these days that we are now trailer trash, so she thought it fitting to bring us some tacky lawn decorations as a gag gift (I'm very glad she never could find those pink flamingoes she was looking for). But one gift touched me. She and S spent some time last weekend copying some family recipes for me. I had been thinking that I would need to dig around to re-find some of these favorites after the fire to rebuild my collection.

It has always made me smile when I know that someone thinks enough of me to do something nice for me just for the sake of doing something nice for me. They had many other things they could have done that weekend, but they (and I include R in this- recognized her handwriting!) chose to sit down, take the time to go through the cookbooks and boxes and fish out these family treasures. I was glad to see some of the exact recipes I had been missing, and I chuckled to find two copies of Missouri soup in there- that one must be extra good.

So thank you, S and B2 (and R) for doing that for me- it made me feel loved, and more than made up for the plastic pinwheels.

Questions asked in a 5 minute period...

What are you doing?

Who was on the phone?

Where is Dad?

When did he leave for work?

Where is he working today?

How many minutes will it take him to get there?

Did the mailman come yet?

What are we doing today?

Can I go play outside?

Do we have to do school today?

Can I play computer?

Where's J?

Where's W?

Where's the cat?

What are you doing now?

Can I ride my bike?

Where's the vaccum cleaner?

Will you be mad if I tell you what I did?

What was the score of the hockey game last night?

Can I have a snack?

Can I have a drink?

Why do we get growing pains?

Can you help me with this?

If questions are a sign of an intelligent child, then mine are geniuses.

Things I love

The sound of birds, some identifiable, others not.

Twilight.

Watching my boys ride their bikes down the driveway.

The look on J's face after he jumped off the diving board for the first time.

Hearing from God.

Silly conversations with my sisters.

Utopia- especially the Belgian chocolate.

Flowers.

My kitty.

Dreams.

Getting kissed on the head.

Holding hands.

Belgian chocolate.

Lazy evenings.

Love.