HOLDING MY BREATH FOR SPRING

Very soon my life is going to get very busy. Well, busier. I am pretty busy already. It's time to till the garden and get the seeds going in the greenhouse. Since January I have been pouring over seed catalogues with dreams of warm summer days, sunflowers blowing in the wind, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, crisp green beans and basil. Lots of basil. And now to be able to finally see the signs of spring, the dreams will soon be a reality.

I absolutely love this time of the year. It's as if all the trees are holding their breath for that special moment when they will burst forth their leaves and welcome the warmer weather. There is truly no green like the one of new growth. It is so fresh and alive.

                                        By the way, last years pics, we aren't quite there yet!


So soon, I will be behind the rototiller, plowing up the dirt, and plowing in rabbit manure. I will be mapping my planting grid and trying to remember what was planted where last year so I don't replant the same things in the same places. Taking notes last summer would have been a great idea, but at the time I thought I would remember. I don't. It must be because I'm 41.

 In the next few weeks I will also be starting seeds in the greenhouse for planting out in June. Last year, the mice ate a lot of my seeds, so I have a new plan to outsmart them. We'll see how that goes. I love little mice, as long as they aren't in the house, so I can't bare to use a trap. And we have a cat, so she does her part taking care of the mouse, vole and squirrel population. Mindy the cat has a definite issue with squirrels and she will hunt them tirelessly. Poor little things don't have a chance against Mindy.

 The grass is also showing signs of life, which means its time to get the mower all tuned up. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to mow our lawn here on a lawn tractor. I really think we need some sheep, or a couple goats, but I have to convince hubby to build me some fences.

It's also pruning time. We have 5 apples trees, a peach tree and a plum tree as well as High Bush blueberries, so this is a big task. We are also planning on planting raspberry this year, and had toyed with strawberries, although there is a U Pick strawberry farm just down the road, in walking distance, so we may not bother with that. Our rhubarb patch is also springing forth, so there will be rhubarb crisp, pies and maybe some rhubarb wine in our near future. I've never tried making it before, but I hear its very easy and tasty. If I decide to go ahead with this, I will chronicle the undertaking here on the blog and let you all know how it turns out.

Well, just reading back over this post, I'm starting to feel a little tired and overwhelmed. Funny, in all my garden fantasies during the winter, I was always lying in my hammock, overlooking the beautiful garden. I guess I forgot how it got that way! Well, bring it on. My gardening gloves and tools are ready.

                                       

YARMOUTH, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Six years ago, we left our lives in British Columbia, Canada to start a new adventure. It wasn't the first time we've done something like that, and I'm sure it won't be the last, but this one was big. It meant selling our home, quitting jobs with no other prospects, buying an RV and travelling across this beautiful country of ours with 3 kids, a dog, and a very unhappy cat, who now resides back in BC I might add. It also meant leaving all our friends and family behind. Looking back at it now, I really can't believe we did that. Most people told us we were crazy. Some even said we were terrible parents for jeopardizing our children's happiness that way, and some were completely supportive. I was even asked once, if we were fugitives. I could only wish my life was that exciting.  But at the time, I had absolutely no worries. None. I saw the road ahead, new adventures to experience and new people to meet. The things we've experienced, and the people that have come in to our lives because of the decisions we have made are worth all the struggles and sacrifices to get to where we are today. People always ask me if I miss the West Coast, and Vancouver, and I would have to say of course I do. I miss the mountains, and a rushing river, and the immense trees that reach for the sky. But for me, I miss family the most. But those feelings are natural. It's ok to miss things. And to be truthful I really don't miss the rain! Following your dreams and your heart are so important in this life. We are only given one chance. If you cloud your life with looking back on past decisions, and what if's, and old baggage, you aren't able to embrace the now, or look positively towards the future.

So Nova Scotia has become our new home and we have fallen for this province hook, line and sinker. Where we live now is completely opposite to where my husband and I grew up. Priorities are completely different, the landscape is diverse, and the familial history that goes back generations is phenomenal. The first questions you are asked when you meet someone new in Yarmouth is not what do you do for a living or where you live, but who your family is. What's your history? What's your last name? And believe me, when I tell someone our last name, they know instantly, we are not from around these parts.

 We live in the southwestern part of the province which has very strong Acadian roots, and two languages are spoken, Acadian French and English. Here is a link to some great information about Acadians should you be interested.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadians

 And living in a small community is so much different than a city. People know one another here, and have for generations. Their connection to each other spans centuries. And their memories are long, so you better behave yourself!

But living in rural Nova Scotia has its challenges. Yarmouth recently lost its ferry connection to the state of Maine, in the USA. It has hurt the town dramatically, and there has been a big exodus of young families to Alberta. Some houses sit vacant, and many stores and restaurants are closed. But I have faith in this little town. It has been here for hundreds of years, and will be for many more. And you truly can't beat the lobster.

Yarmouth is predominantly a fishing community now which makes it difficult for some to eke out a living. Fishing is a hard life, and is enveloped in tragedy each season. This past lobster season, 5 young men were lost at sea when their boat was overturned in a storm and another young man fell overboard and was never seen again. But as most small communities do, they rallied together and supported one another through the sorrows and they go out and fish once more.

 It is also a community that revolves around hunting and fishing, and living life to its fullest. Four wheelers and motorbikes sit outside the local Tim Horton's and hunters orange is a must in the fall, when deer season opens.

I love Yarmouth. I love its endless lakes, back country roads, beaches and people. I love that I can sit on a rock and gaze out at the ocean, knowing that in the 1700's they would hold Mass at the same spot I am sitting today. I feel part of something here. Something old. And every now and then, if you are really quiet, you can hear the whispers of the past as you walk down an old rail bed, or stumble upon an old rock wall that lines the grown over fields and orchards from days gone by. Yarmouth. A place rich in history and a wonderful place to be.

                                               Main Street Yarmouth on a cold winter's day

SICK

So yesterday I woke up sick. Not just a little sick, but the sore throat, stuffed up, body aches all over sick. Now I know all the other mothers out there are going to relate to the fact that Mom's can't be sick. Lunches have to be made, permission slips signed, ballet classes to go to, volunteer meetings to attend and vets to visit. In my house, the chickens, rabbits, dogs and cats still need to be fed and taken care of. So when I came crawling out of bed and announced that I was sick, there were looks of horror on every one's faces.

I suppose it's a nice feeling that the entire household will crumble to dust if I'm not running it. It's good to be needed I guess. I just don't want to be that needed right now. My bed is calling to me, but instead of getting back in it, I  make it instead.

There should be fill in Mom's we can call, to come take over the reins while we mend. I know that if I could just go to bed for a day, my recovery time would be so much faster, than if I slog through everything that I have to do. And I know that in a few days from now, when I'm feeling so much better, and every one else is down with this nasty cold, I will tirelessly take over their lives and will answer their cries of need, as they snuggle in their beds to get better and heal. And there is no doubt in my mind, that every one will claim that they are sooooo much sicker than I was. Because really, if I had been as sick as them, how could I have carried on with life.

Ahhhh, being a Mom. It's a thankless job. But I still wouldn't change it for the world.

TREASURES REVEALED

I am one of those really lucky people in the world that happens to be blessed with a great sister. Now I'm not writing this because I know she is faithfully reading my blog every morning, and supporting me in furthering my writing. I'm writing this because a little something revealed itself to me the other day that made me so very happy, so I thought I would share it with you.

A couple years ago, my sister gave me a pair of earrings. And I loved them. I wore them everywhere and they meant a lot to me. The reason they were so important had nothing to do with the monetary value, but rather that I could picture her in my mind picking them out and that when she saw those earrings she thought of me. Those kinds of gestures mean so much, especially when you live so far apart from one another.

 Now here's the thing. I am really bad with jewellery. Especially earrings. I lose them all the time and I've gotten to the point that I buy the same ones over and over so that if I lose one, I still have a pair. I do this with socks too, but that is a whole other story.

Anyways, I was able to hang on to these ones for a very long time. Amazing, I know. And then one day, before Christmas, I went to put them on, and there was only one. I searched everywhere. Pockets, purse, car, bed, drawers. You name it, I looked there but eventually I had to give up. Another earring lost to wherever lost earrings go.

 Meanwhile, winter has come and gone and the earring was forgotten. Then, the other day I was coming out of my greenhouse after cleaning it out to get it ready for spring planting and as I was walking I happened to glance down. And guess what I found lying in the leaves on the ground? Yup, my earring. It must have been there in the snow all this time, only to reveal itself in the spring thaw. I am so glad I held on to the other one. I always do, just in case. I have a whole little box of lonely earrings keeping each other company. I was ecstatic, running with this little earring in to the house. No one else seemed that impressed with my find. In fact, I think the kids thought their Mom had lost it a little, but they didn't know what it meant to me.

So today I get to wear the earrings once again, and when I glance in the mirror and see them there, I can think of my sister, so very far away in miles, but so very close in my heart. Miss ya sis!

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

So we headed out to a place called Bunker's Island last evening to enjoy the view and sip our tea. It is a spot where you can rest for awhile and take in the 360 degree view all around you, and meditate on what is important in life. When given a front row seat to the beauty in nature it isn't hard to prioritize your life and feel positive about what each of our journeys in life is all about. As we watched the sun descend it sent rays of light over the ocean, illuminating the clouds from behind. What a spectacular scene. As this was happening we watched the sky as it changed from light to dark back to light, as snow squalls whipped by and the winds churned up the ocean. I am always so impressed by nature and its immense power and how small we all are as human beings in comparison. As we were sitting there, the conversation between my husband and I flowed, from news worthy stories, to life, our path in it, where we are headed, and opinions on food security, cost of living and everything else under the sun.

Taking the moment in a day to sit and watch spectacular scenes in nature open the mind and allow it to flow freely, bringing new ideas and creativity forward. Those moments make us feel alive and good and whole again.

Leaving there I felt renewed and invigorated. When my husband reached over and grabbed my hand and squeezed it saying, "Wow, that was really nice." it made me realize it doesn't take much to make a moment in time special and memorable. It's the little things in life that make it whole, and how lucky we are to have mother nature put on a free show for each and everyone of us to enjoy.

MY BEST FRIEND

My husband and I have been together since High School, almost 23 years ago, and he is still my best and dearest friend. After all this time, I still look forward to seeing his car come up the driveway every day after work and he is still my favorite person to hang out with. We never go through the day without a quick phone call, or a text to remind one another that we are in each others thoughts.

We have been through a lot together my husband and I. We became parents at a very young age. He was 19 and I was 20 and we were just out of High School. We had big plans to work and travel and see the world but fate stepped in and had other ideas for us. So we became a family early on, and even though those times were difficult, and some of the hardest we have faced, we became stronger.

Becoming parents so young, the cards in life are stacked against you. You have to grow up fast, and you have responsibilities you aren't always ready to handle. In the beginning it was tough. We had to overcome so many hurdles. Some of those hurdles, we tripped and fell, but others we soared over, and became stronger in our relationship. And some of those challenges we didn't do alone, and to those that helped us through, we are eternally grateful.

So instead of letting hardships and struggles overwhelm us, we gained strength from each other. Not without difficulties of course, of those there were many, but we were partners and we pulled each other through to where we are today. A very strong family unit. It always amazes me to look back over the years, and see how our little family has grown to become what it is today and to connect the dots and see how everything is woven together to bring us to the here and now.  It helps to know facing forward that the challenges we overcame together in the past, give us the knowledge and confidence that we can face whatever life has in store for us in the future. And I know that even when my kids grow up and move on with their own lives, I will still have my best friend by my side to experience even more adventures, and crazy ideas, because that's what gives life the spice.

Now I realize that I'm painting a picture of marital bliss and perfection and all is rosy in our world, and we all know that isn't the truth. We have arguments, disagreements and irritations. There are times when I would love to just pack a suitcase, jump in the car and say Adios Amigos, and hit the highway. But those times and feelings are normal. We all face them. Some times when its 2am and he's snoring, smothering him with a pillow does cross my mind. But you take the good with the bad, and as long as its mostly good with only a smattering of bad, I'll take it.

I love you my friend, and I hope that we have many more years of adventures together. Oh, and if by chance you read this today, flowers would be great because you kept me up half the night with your snoring!

LAUNDRY MOUNTAIN

In Nova Scotia, we really don't have mountains. We have big hills. We call them mountains, but they aren't. At least not to this girl from the West Coast. To me the Rocky Mountains, are mountains. That said, there is one notable mountain here in this beautiful province I call home. It's called Laundry Mountain and it lives right here in the closet in my laundry room. Sometimes it's like the Rocky Mountains, sometimes The Cape Breton Highlands, but mostly its epic K2. For all you Mom's and Dad's out there, I know you understand Laundry Mountain, and I think you probably all grow ones of your own. The other day, as I was tackling yet another load of laundry, I found a shirt I had forgotten I even owned. It's been that long since I've seen the bottom of the hamper. Truthfully, it's been that long since I've even seen the hamper. Poor thing was crushed beneath the weight of all those dirty clothes and towels, sheets and blankets.

Having a family of five, and pets, and a hobby farm generates a lot of laundry. It also doesn't help the matter that we are on a well and septic which means we limit how many loads a day. Or the fact that I hang my laundry out on the line, to save money and energy, which slows the process even more. Especially when, like I did last night, forgot to take it in off the line, and a rain storm blew in, soaking it all, and strewing it all over my yard. There's also the little matter of when my wonderful, gorgeous children are forced to clean their rooms. Their idea of this cleaning their rooms idea is picking everything up off the floor and dumping it in the laundry hamper. Clean, dirty, it doesn't matter. Room is clean, Mom is happy, right? WRONG. But hey, what can one do about it. Day after day, I don my climbing gear and scale laundry mountain, battling the elements to get to the bottom, not the top, so that I can have that one small, pleasurable moment, when I see the bottom of the hamper. It only lasts moments, but it was worth the journey, a journey I will make again, tomorrow, and the next, tirelessly, but with courage!