A Blessing Arrives ...

My "baby " brother and his beautiful wife our no longer two...their precious blessing arrived July 14th and Mr. G. and I made the almost four hour drive to welcome him to our family, this past week!!

Holding this little bundle, you quickly realize the miracle and blessing in this little Angel our family has been given. He is a wonderful blend of our family and my SIL's family. I know he will change his looks many times before he becomes "himself"... but with each little movement, smile, frown, giggle ~ he reminded us of our father, grandmother and other family members that will continue to live on through him.

Fully alert after about 50 flashes of the camera while he slept...

Ok ... all this posing is making me sleepy...

It's amazing the hundreds of expressions ... and the photos that are taken to capture them!!

This little guy ... has a wonderful disposition and did not cry once during our 10 plus hour visit. And according to the my brother and SIL that is the norm. He is a very content and peaceful baby. 

Sweet dreams my precious little nephew! I'm and Auntie and I couldn't be prouder!! This little Angel really did choose wonderful parents!! ... Watching my SIL and brother and listening to them I was so proud!!

Matthew ....Welcome to the family 

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:2-6)

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Strawberry Jam ~ Cooking with High Heeled Life

Remember these delicious, juicy red strawberries from my

36 Hours with a City 6 year old ~ in the Country  post?

Imagine our little house guest's delight when we asked if she would love to make strawberry jam!

Ingredients required:

1-pint freshly picked strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced

2 TBsp. fruit pectin

1/2 Tsp. butter

1 cup sugar

2 8ounce jelly jars

This recipe is perfect for little helping hands !!

After placing the prepared strawberries in the bowl, our  little helper was happy to take on the "most important" part .. mashing the strawberries. A potato masher is perfect for the job.

In a skillet combine crushed strawberries, pectin, butter.

Stirring constantly, cook over medium-high heat, until mixture comes to a gentle boil.  Add the sugar and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Pour into jars, seal and refrigerate until set about 6 hours.  Since, our strawberry jam cooking adventure was not planned, we did not have any jelly jars. But be were resourceful and saved ourselves from having to drive into town, by using two small glass bowls. Cut some parchment paper - slightly larger than the lid size, placed it over bowl, then cover with the bowl's lid.

The jam will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. This is a simple and fun recipe to do with children.

NOTE: On Monnday our little guest's mother emailed us, to say our guest thinks she may need to spend a couple extra days next time. When the mother complemented her on the yummy jam, our little gal responded "of course, I did the most important part!"

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FINALLY....

After almost two weeks of record breaking HOT temperatures, we finally got rain!!

If it wasn't the middle of the night when the thunderstorm hit, I may have been tempted to go outside and dance in the rain!!

The roar of thunder and the ligthening show that lit up the room...

Where followed by the sound of gentle rain hitting the roof ... and then a welcoming down pour!

For the gardens are getting a much needed long and cool drink!!

If you are still in the heat wave click over to my

ATTEATUDE and Chocolate blog for a cooling great recipe!!

Tour down Unexpected Road ..

Realization hit me, a few weeks ago, that I’ve been traveling down Unexpected Road almost [three months short of] 5 years! Looking back over the past years, it feels like I have been frozen in time. That it was only yesterday that I was getting ready to go and celebrate a friend's birthday; earlier that week I had discovered how much I admired Marie Antoinette after watching Coppla's newly released movie with the birthday girl. This frozen in time feeling is the result of traveling down Denial Boulevard, without knowing it. I’m not sure when I turned onto this boulevard or how long I have been on it, but I hope it comes to an end or turn soon.

All around me friends, family and therapy related persons, say “look how far you have come; you are looking good and look you’re bouncing back quicker after an anxiety episode, melt down etc.” Yes, outwardly things are looking much better, and I’m learning to put on that happy “I’m doing great” smiley look. Inwards however things remain confused and frustrating most of the time. Things that made perfect sense to me are now distant memories. At times I still feel like a child pushing the boundaries of authority. While other times give me hope that life may not be the same as it was, but it will be great – these feelings last until the fatigue or forgetfulness set in quickly reminding me I am different now and the path my life is traveling is also different.

I’m told overtime everyone changes – yes, but the change is gradual and the person remains in control of the path they take. No Unexpected Road. Recently in my search of the Holy Grail of Recovery … I was trying to go therapist free ~ no psychologist; no rehab girl; no physical therapy. Well it’s not worked out too well. There is a silver lining here, and that is the cross road sign ahead seems to be “Acceptance Lane” because I’m looking forward to having these people back on the payroll, sort of speaking.

When I started blogging aside from a venue to work on my communication and writing skills with Speech Therapist, I wanted this to be an area that anyone faced with a cross road, challenge, transition in their life could feel they weren’t alone. A place where they could perhaps take some of the things that were working for me and apply/modify to work for them. And for family and friends of people going through life changing transitions, to get a glimpse of what may be going on. Looking over my posts in recent months it’s clear unknowingly being on Denial Boulevard, has limited this openness in my writing.

Some of my earlier readers have emailed wondering if things with Mr. G’s family have resolved themselves, as I haven’t written about that either. Sadly no … and this too is something I will be sharing in my future writing.

Thank you to my readers who have been with me from the beginning and thank you for joining along to my new readers.

Dolce Escapes to Cottage Country

My cousin Kobi spends the winters in Florida and the summers at the cottage in The French River. So, Mommy and Daddy decided to take a drive up to spend some time with his Mommy and Daddy (Auntie and Uncle M , to me). It was too hot for Stella to go (her crate would have to go in the back of Daddy's truck) so she went to visit the children and grandma M in the city. Since I'm little and my car seat fits in the A/C part of Mommy's SUV, I got to go too!!! 

Here I am in my cottage attire...

Kobi - thought I should tough it out and be a doggie...

I think it's a bit windy Kobi!!!

Woof! Woof ! but our Daddys' are catching up... Mommy go faster...

Woof ! There goes Daddy and Uncle M. in the other boat...

Ah finally at the cottage. We have to boat in, cause it's on its own island.

Come on lets play!!! Woof! Woof!

Kobi is always ready to play he is only 7 months old...

Are you sure it's ok to be outside by ourselves? With no leash?

Woof! Woof! Kobi and I ran all over the island ... he showed me where go ...

I got to explore on my own too!!!

Ok ..Mommy .... I'll keep my hat and goggles on ...

NOT!!! ................Lets go Kobi.....Run..

Hey, what are you doing in there? 

Hmmm... I've never been in a lake before....

That was fun!!! and it felt really good...

 

But I'm only going in up to my belly!

WOOF! WOOF! I want a lake ... can we get one for our country home?

What a view of that lake!!! ....

36 Hours with a City 6 year old in the Country

A few weeks ago Mr.G's God daughter/niece came to spend some time with us at our country home. Keep in mind she lives in the city and since we don't have children, we have yet to focus on things like swing sets; bikes etc. that would help occupy a child.

But our little house guest surprised us, she was already to spend a day with nature. Armed with a net, bug observation cage and her pal Dolce, she was off to see what Mother Nature had to offer.

Dragonflies floated about with ease.

Birds fed at the bird feeders

Humming birds took the nectar with ease from a feeder. She was over the moon excited to see this tiny creature.

Of course she was determined to catch a little nature for her observation cage. This little dragonfly was not quick enough.

We lounged the morning sitting enjoying the warm weather , on the Muskoka chairs by the stream. We saw some fish swim by.

After lunch.. we decided to go on a country drive and explore a local farm...

The strawberries were ripe for the picking, so with all in agreement we ventured onto the wagon and to the strawberry fields we went.

Our little city girl took to the strawberry fields like she had been doing this all her 6 years. Picking the juiciest and reddest berries.

She had that pail filled in no time....

We got to see some of the farm animals... Mr. Bunny was adorable...

The goats were quite the characters...

and our little city slicker was brave and couldn't resist petting the goats.

Of course one's visit to a farm is not complete until one sits on a tractor...

After all that picking and farm animal petting, we worked up quite an appetite! One that only

This place could satisfy!!!

One thing about living in the countryside .. the ice cream shops serve up the best ice cream!

Our little gal is an experienced ice cream eater. She requested hers in a cup so as not to share any with the ground. She was delighted with the sprinkles that capped off her ice cream mountain. 

After a day filled with adventure ... we all lounged back at our home, talking about all the fun we had. 

What did we do with all those strawberries? You ask...

Stop by next week and see how we finished our 36 hours with a 6 year old..

Note: the dragonfly was released back to its waiting family and friends.





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