sunny, hot, temps 29
Having a great time with the kids. I'm not at all good with kids until they hit the double digits, and then I'm more relaxed. Once I can talk to them. And these kids are great. Two boys, two girls...so far no tears, no teasing, no taunting and meanness that come sometimes happen. Of course, the day isn't over yet... But yesterday was a joy. Rained a bit in the morning, but they all went swimming anyway.
I've forgotten what it's like to be a kid and not care about water temperature. They even went swimming for an hour or so in the pond. They found the big pool toys...the dolphin and the porpoise - and next thing we knew they were splashing away with Uncle Doug in the pond. Today, after pancakes and bacon the boys got back in the pool and devised the 'Kids Olympics" which entailed catching a football as you jump into the deep end, then running along the bottom of the shallow end, and finally their version of the butterfly. Pretty chaotic Olympics, but still no tears and no trips to the emergency department.
Yesterday we all walked down the road to visit Markus and feed him carrots and apples - then into the village for ice cream - and back home for the Canadiens game. Least said about that, the better. (we lost - there, I said it.)
Barbeque burgers for the kids, lobsters for Vic and Michael - salads for Doug and me. Ending with the brownies, which Theo's Mom made...dear Lord they're wonderful.
And today is just the most beautiful day. As I write all four kids have just finished playing soccer out by the pond and are now in the pool. We're off for crepes later, but will hang loose (as they say) in case the kids would rather just play around here. sirloin steaks on the BBQ for dinner - and salads. Frankly, while we try to get some good food into the kids we pretty much feed them crap...and hope Theo's mom put carrots and broccoli into the brownies. Like the Canadiens winning this series, it seems a forlorn hope. It's a little disconcerting when Markus is getting better nutrition than the kids.
Everyone leaves tomorrow morning, we have the the Adult Olympics of washing sheets and towels and doing dishes and finding single shoes and socks and underwear to be mailed after them.
And then the place gets quiet, and we try to pretend it's peaceful...just peaceful. And not empty.
Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quiet. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Quietude
blizzard, blowing snow, temps minus 14
But inside it's snug and warm, fire laid ready to be set. Coffee on the pine table beside me. Laptop open. Surrounded by notes and manuscripts, books. Michael writing. Trudy sleeping - wet and stinky from chasing her ball through the storm, digging for it, finding it, tossing it into the air herself. Rolling on it.
And today is the gift. No one coming. We're going nowhere. Will sit by the fire or the television, or in the bath. Doing what I want to do.
Rock Cornish Game hens for dinner.
Tomorrow...more snow. More quietude. More peace.
Unless...
As we all know - anything can happen! Still, for now while the blizzard snows us in and throws itself against our home, we are inside with everything we need.
But inside it's snug and warm, fire laid ready to be set. Coffee on the pine table beside me. Laptop open. Surrounded by notes and manuscripts, books. Michael writing. Trudy sleeping - wet and stinky from chasing her ball through the storm, digging for it, finding it, tossing it into the air herself. Rolling on it.
And today is the gift. No one coming. We're going nowhere. Will sit by the fire or the television, or in the bath. Doing what I want to do.
Rock Cornish Game hens for dinner.
Tomorrow...more snow. More quietude. More peace.
Unless...
As we all know - anything can happen! Still, for now while the blizzard snows us in and throws itself against our home, we are inside with everything we need.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
An uneventful, delightful, life
cloudy, rain, heavy at times, clearing now, windy, temps 17
After spending yesterday baking by the pool with the family today we lit the fire! Fun either way. Wardrobe getting a work-out.
Lovely day yesterday - went to the lit fest with heather O'Neil and Neil Smith in Knowlton. Wonderful. And packed. Then home for a few hours by the pool with family and then off to a meeting. Got home in time for a late dinner with everyone.
Today quiet day - only left to go for a cafe au lait with my brother in Sutton. Feels as though the day was spent doing not much of anything - some preparing food, some cleaing up, some chatting, some reading. Perfect.
Doug and I are off ar 5 tomorrow morning...in separate cars...me into Montreal and him back to Toronto. We're VERY similar. Both prefer to rise at ungodly hours to beat traffic that get up at a civilized hour and fight traffic. And this is the end of Quebec's construction holiday so the roads might be packed with people returning to the city and returning to work. So this suits out temperments.
Have had a wonderful visit. Have done no work! Haven't responded to any (well a couple) of the hundreds of people who wrote in yesterday, after the mailing of the August newsletter. Want to get to some more in the next couple of days to thank people for writing and being so supportive. People are so kind. It means a lot.
Dentist appointment in Montreal tomorrow at noon...and need to find a bookcase for the new apartment. I'm hoping to not have to go to Ikea (don't want to assemble the thing) but I feel Sweden calling).
Will let you know what happens!
After spending yesterday baking by the pool with the family today we lit the fire! Fun either way. Wardrobe getting a work-out.
Lovely day yesterday - went to the lit fest with heather O'Neil and Neil Smith in Knowlton. Wonderful. And packed. Then home for a few hours by the pool with family and then off to a meeting. Got home in time for a late dinner with everyone.
Today quiet day - only left to go for a cafe au lait with my brother in Sutton. Feels as though the day was spent doing not much of anything - some preparing food, some cleaing up, some chatting, some reading. Perfect.
Doug and I are off ar 5 tomorrow morning...in separate cars...me into Montreal and him back to Toronto. We're VERY similar. Both prefer to rise at ungodly hours to beat traffic that get up at a civilized hour and fight traffic. And this is the end of Quebec's construction holiday so the roads might be packed with people returning to the city and returning to work. So this suits out temperments.
Have had a wonderful visit. Have done no work! Haven't responded to any (well a couple) of the hundreds of people who wrote in yesterday, after the mailing of the August newsletter. Want to get to some more in the next couple of days to thank people for writing and being so supportive. People are so kind. It means a lot.
Dentist appointment in Montreal tomorrow at noon...and need to find a bookcase for the new apartment. I'm hoping to not have to go to Ikea (don't want to assemble the thing) but I feel Sweden calling).
Will let you know what happens!
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Lovely, quiet day in Three Pines
Sunny, very cold, temp minus 15
Another very cold day. Shouldn't come as a surprise, this is Quebec in February after all. Hard to get out of bed some mornings, feeling snug and warm under the duvet. Haven't set the alarm the last two mornings since we had quiet days. Writing days. Bliss. Woke up at 7am anyway.
Michael's now managed to gain a pound. Since I don't weigh myself I have no idea how I'm doing, but have decided that his pound gain is his and his alone. I also know, from other periods of watching weight that this happens. He'll be down 2 pounds by Wednesday.
Lovely, quiet day today. Mike and Dom dropping by around noon to say goodbye, but that's all. I plan to stay in my pajama's all day, and write by the fire. Then have a long bath as my treat. I find when I write I need to be extra kind to myself. Normally that's with food - a pastry, some chocolate, what have you. But nowadays it's baths.
Am looking forward to the US tour in a couple of weeks. St Martin's Minotaur, my publishers, have added a lunch in New York City with the book buyers for Barnes and Noble. That should be fun.
How lovely, for now, to have a peaceful day at home writing the next book. Visiting with Clara and Peter, sleeping at the B&B, cafe au lait at the bistro, and following Armand as he unravels a troubling and perplexing murder. Sure hope he knows what he's doing.
Be well.
Another very cold day. Shouldn't come as a surprise, this is Quebec in February after all. Hard to get out of bed some mornings, feeling snug and warm under the duvet. Haven't set the alarm the last two mornings since we had quiet days. Writing days. Bliss. Woke up at 7am anyway.
Michael's now managed to gain a pound. Since I don't weigh myself I have no idea how I'm doing, but have decided that his pound gain is his and his alone. I also know, from other periods of watching weight that this happens. He'll be down 2 pounds by Wednesday.
Lovely, quiet day today. Mike and Dom dropping by around noon to say goodbye, but that's all. I plan to stay in my pajama's all day, and write by the fire. Then have a long bath as my treat. I find when I write I need to be extra kind to myself. Normally that's with food - a pastry, some chocolate, what have you. But nowadays it's baths.
Am looking forward to the US tour in a couple of weeks. St Martin's Minotaur, my publishers, have added a lunch in New York City with the book buyers for Barnes and Noble. That should be fun.
How lovely, for now, to have a peaceful day at home writing the next book. Visiting with Clara and Peter, sleeping at the B&B, cafe au lait at the bistro, and following Armand as he unravels a troubling and perplexing murder. Sure hope he knows what he's doing.
Be well.
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