It's been a long time since I've written. I believe the last post was 2019. The world before the pandemic. So much has changed, including the kids. Larkin has graduated high school. She went on to college at Colby-Sawyer and has decided she'd like to work a while. Silas is 15 and a sophmore in high school and has grown to almost 6'! It's hard to believe time has passed in what seems like the blink of an eye. Here they are at Lark's 19th birthday:

  Over the summer, we added a four legged and fluffy friend.  He's a poodle and his name is Sprocket. 

Lazy Days of Summer

Ahh summer! We're currently enjoying mid-70's weather with a south westerly breeze. Silas is in the hammock reading a book, Larkin's sorting socks for money, and Jamie's weed whacking. Ahhh summer!

PEI and Hay Bailing Time!

We visited PEI and as always, the views amazed us! Here are a few hay bales out in the field behind Tom and Heidi's house in French River - our favorite town in PEI.

On our way to PEI, we stayed at the Clipper Shipp Motel in Pocologan , New Brunswick. Its a great place to rest your bones after a long drive (about 7 hours from home to Pocologan)! In Canadian money, we paid $114.00 for the night. That's less than $100.00 in American money - what a steal. The rooms are very nice with more than one bed, a couch, kitchenette, table and chairs, and a deck overlooking the ocean. If you go, be sure to bring food with you as the grocery store is a ways away. Pots, pans, dishes, and cutlery are provided. We highly recommend this home away from home!

 

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Pete the Sheep

 

Pete (left) and her lamb

Yes, we have a sheep named Pete (and she's a girl). These four-legged friends are a shared responsibility with my brother and fiancée. Pete (a.k.a. Petey) was named by them. Pete's turning out to be a REALLY BIG producer of wool. I bet we have ten pounds in this one fleece. The wool is being brought up to MacAuslad's Woolen Mill in PEI to be made into REALLY NICE blankets! There's nothing like slleping under a comfy wool blanket in the middle of a New England winter.

 

 

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Molar Mining

Silas had a molar removed over vacation. He went in like a brave knight and came out like a hero! He had a tooth removed due to an abscess. Here he is before his pearly white was mined from his mouth:

 

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Stack and Whack...

School starts Tuesday and we're trying to savor every minute of unscheduled time.  Today, we stacked wood and whacked our way down to Clark Pond.  We still have a way to go on the wood and on the trail blazing, but we're feeling like we've put a dent in both and we had some WONDERFUL family time.
Lark and Si are growing fast and become more and more independent as the days go on.  Silas, for instance, now has his own pair of loppers and can help with minor shrub trimming.  And Lark, has enough muscle to tear out small trees!  Very impressive.
It's a little strange teaching the same grade that your child's in.  Larkin is now a fourth grader (where did the time go?).  I now find myself asking her, "What did you do in school today," but secretly trying to pry good teaching ideas from her at the same time.  I've also been trying to dump information about New Hampshire into her mind so she'll be ready when her teacher asks her about the state insect, state flower, state fruit, etc.  She was surprised to learn that the pumpkin was nominated by children to be the state fruit.
Silas is a first grader now and LOVES his new teacher!  She's quite dynamic.  I have to tell you, though...I was a very bad parent and didn't do EXACTLY what the teacher wanted us to...
At meet the teacher, Silas's teacher gave him this cute poem and some sprinkles to put under his pillow.  The sprinkles were glitter and jimmies. I'm an OCD keep-my-bed-clean kind of girl.  So instead of sprinkling the ready confetti under his pillow, we kept it in the Ziploc and slipped it under his pillow.  It still worked and his bed remained clean and the confetti is now reusable!  I think I'm  going to need it come Tuesday!

Going on a Bear Hunt

We're going on a bear hunt, gonna catch a big one!  I'm stepping out of the classroom tomorrow to enter my big backyard.  In fact, the whole family is! Lark and Si are taking the day and Jamie is too.  We have a mama bear denned up here and Ben Kilham has invited us along to inspect her and her three yearling cubs.  We are very excited!

Sick Silas

Silas is sick with strep for the third time this winter.  I hope this time he'll kick that bacteria out of his system!  The upside?  I get a day off with my Bee.  Right now he's in his pajamas quietly playing with his hand-me-down Playmobile toys.  He's decided that all the captains and now, "good"  and that there are no bad guys.  Isn't that nice?
I'm home with this little fella and glad for it! Every time one of the kids gets sick, it's always a scramble to figure out who will stay home and IF we'd keep the kid home that was sick.  Sometimes we have to make those hard decisions because things at work rely on us so much that we feel bad when we need to take a day off.  My decision to stay home this morning was based on, "What would I do if I WAS a stay-at-home mom?"  It's obvious! I'd stay home with the sick kid!  I am thankful I have a job that allows for sick days.

Larkin turned nine yesterday.  It's hard to believe it was nine years ago when I was at DHMC having her.  It seems like just yesterday when my Danbury Elementary friends filed into the hospital room to see my sweet baby girl.  Happy birthday to Lady Larkin.

Snow Day

Looks like it's been a while since I last wrote.  It's always lovely when you get a bonus day off and you HAVE to find SOMETHING to do.  Mascoma had a planned two week holiday break.  Lebanon was two days shy of two weeks UNTIL Hercules stepped in bringing over twelve inches of snow and cold temperatures.  The slippery white stuff landed me two snow days.  I know it'll cost me in the end, but having those two extra days off with my kids while they are on break has been delightful!
Yesterday we enjoyed being outside.  We took a short snowshoe through the bridle path and returned to roast marshmallows in the wood stove for s'mores.  YUM!
Today, it is BRUTALLY cold.  We woke up to -2 and are expected to get to -20 tonight.  BRRR!  So, what do you do on a COLD, SNOWY day?  You make snow day cookies!  Here's a recipe I used to make the cookies currently baking in the oven.  The recipe comes from my mom, and boy are they good!

Snow Day Sugar Cookies - no chill required!
Cream together:
1/3 c. unsalted butter
1/3 c. shortening
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 T. milk
1 t. vanilla

Add in:
2 3/4 c. flour
1 t. salt
2 tsp. baking powder

Bake @ 375 degrees F for 4-5 minutes.
Ice with your favorite frosting or icing.

Here's a tip from my mother-in-law: use a ketchup bottle (the kind like they have at restaurants for hot dogs (red with white cap - not a name brand).   Fill the bottle with your frosting and pipe your design on your cookies.

Enjoy!

Summer Vacation is Over!

WAAAA!  Keep up with me in class!  Check out my classroom website to find out all the fun things my class is doing!  http://petuniapolkadotspot.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html

Back breaking work

I think the Shakers had something when they insisted on Sunday as being a day of rest.  I wish I had opted for that instead of the work I did today.  LOL!
Yesterday I decided to make my perennial garden bigger.  I didn't have anything blooming so I decided I needed more plants.  And when I bought more plants, I needed more room in the garden....you know the story, except there's no mouse involved.
First, I pulled out all of the day lilies. I dug a new garden bed and planted them.  Then I (well actually Jamie did) hauled out purple irises. They are still on the front lawn.  I'm not sure where I am going to tuck them.  I've moved various little plants around, etc.  Aunt Bonnie gave me pink Astilbe and coral bells and I'll plant those tomorrow.  The digging and yanking having me aching all over.
When I haven't been gardening I have been applying coats of paint to the bathroom walls.  Today we installed the toilet, painted the window trim, caulked the shower and cleaned up.
I am also working on another project.  When I was a kid, my dad made me a small, wooden toy box.  Today I trucked it home from Mom and Dad's and I am in the process of re-painting it to use for towels in the upstairs bathroom (at least while we figure out the linen closet).  I might even have to venture into making a cushion...
Yesterday we also went to the Producer's Fair.  What a great time we had!  Yummy food and a few visits with knitting friends.  I love my knitting friends!  Donna, if you are reading this, call me!  I'll help you with your quilting question! My favorites at the fair: VegetaBalls pesto, Walpole Creamery mocha chip ice cream , and the iced coffee (with maple syrup) (I can't remember the vendor)!
That's enough for tonight.  I'm tired.  It's time to rest.

Petunia puts her feet up!

Yeah right!  For those of you who know me all to well, you know I don't sit very easily.  Unless....I have tuckered myself out.  That happened today.  I took a run at mid-day (thanks to two wonderful babysitters) in the heat for 45 minutes.  When I got back I didn't even want to eat lunch!  I was so tired. The sitters took the kids for a walk and I grabbed a glass of iced tea, a magazine and SAT for 10 solid minutes.  I even said, "Ahhhh" aloud.  Then, I realized I was wasting time and scooted upstairs to practice piano and sew!
The bathroom is coming along.  Jamie is working on drywall.  The word on the street is that the vanity will be in at the hardware store on Monday.  YAY!  We're still trying to figure out our countertop and have held off in ordering something until we have the cabinet in place.
School is around the corner.  Hopefully I'll be able to go in to school to set up soon.  I've been scouting out sales and purchasing art supplies.  Staples is doing a funky little thing this year.  You can buy up to 25 things, but you pay full price after the limited quantity and you get that money back in rewards.  Well, let me tell you, that does not FLY with me! I'll be hiring shoppers this year!  LOL!  What is this world coming to?
I got news today that a carving we ordered in PEI is done! Exciting news!  It will be a nice reminder of the island until we get back there.
I'll be posting photos soon. If you are a FB friend, you can see some of the shots that I have uploaded.
Tomorrow we see Joel and Alli!  Super excited to take photographs for their new Dobra Tea business!  Cheers!

It's August!

I can't believe it's August already!  Unreal!  Where did the time go?  School starts on the 26th.  Back to school sales have started and the cooler weather seems to have come.  We even have a tree that has completely changed color.  What is up with that?
Sitting in front of the computer hasn't really been fun for me lately.  Well, I guess sitting and typing hasn't.  I certainly have been logging hours online.  I've been looking up various directions on how to make things.  This morning, for instance, I was checking out how to make a canvas floor mat.  Tomorrow, my sister Chelsi and I are supposed to get started on floor mats (with three kids in tow).  I'll be making something to go on the NEW bathroom floor.
The last time I wrote, I mentioned the bathroom overhaul.  It's going well,  but taking WAYYYYY longer than expected.  In fact, while I write this, Jamie is slaving away installing a piece of new drywall.  We have most of the room painted (we'll continue this work again tomorrow) and the floor is in.  We're still waiting for the vanity.  Once that arrives, I'll arrange for a countertop, sink, and faucet.  We ordered a non-standard vanity. It's 46" long and it will be up against a wall.  I'm hesitant to order a new top until we have the base installed.  If anyone has any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.  Feel free to email me about it!
I got the nicest text from a student I had last year.  He went to PEI and visited Hope River Studio.  He even got to see the angora bunnies that I loved so much!  I love when my students keep in touch (even all the way in PEI).
Yesterday, we went to the Lake Sunapee Crafts Fair.  We joined Jamie's Aunt and Uncle there to take a peek at local art.  SOOOO inspiring!  Speaking of crafts...I've been working on a felted puffer fish.  It might be a pin cushion, it might not.  Either way, I'm having fun with it.  
Larkin and Silas went with me today to see my friend Wendy (Mrs. Johnson to the students reading).  We had a yummy lunch and DELICIOUS  blueberry cake!  She even took us to Dr. Shell's house to see the animals and made Larkin a stained glass dragon fly.  I think she should go into business!
Wouldn't it be fun to have a business?  What kind of business would you have if you could have a business (I'm feeling a little like Dr. Seuss)....

You know you're busy when...

You know you're busy when you can't write on your blog.  Even now, I have a million things to do, but I made it a goal to write every day and I haven't fulfilled my goal.
We've been working on the bathroom.  The UPSTAIRS bathroom. Yes, the one that is the MAIN bathroom.  The one with the SHOWER AND TUB and all the OTHER stuff you need to bathe and freshen up with every day.  That's the one!  It was my crazy idea and it's gone a little haywire.  Mr. Fix It has been working so hard his body is aching and he woke up moaning and groaning from muscle pain.  Nothing a little ibuprofen can't help with!  When it's all said and done, it will be nice, though.
Lark's on her last week of camp.  Then, it will be August and then.  NO, I'm not allowed to say it.  So, I won't...but it's that other S word that no one likes to hear when it means the end of summer is near.
Jamie's aunt and uncle are here from Pennsylvania.  It's been nice visiting with them and discussing the Amish. I find the Amish ways intriguing and can't wait to make a visit.
My niece Addi and future brother-in-law came for a visit tonight.  That was fun, but not without drama!  Lark, while attempting to play outside with the kids, got stung twice.  Again, Mr. Fix It went to the rescue!  This time wielding a spray can of wasp killer instead of a crow bar and sledge hammer.
Ahh.  The dog days of summer!
I'll write more (not necessarily tomorrow) when i get a chance.  Fair warning, though.  It may be days.

Sit and Spin

It's been a while since I last wrote.  This is for several reasons as I have been just too busy.  Silas started swim lessons this week and with being at PEI last week, we had several appointments and catching up to do.
While we were away, the weeds in the garden completely took over.  It's taken me several hours to try to reclaim the turf! Thank goodness for audiobooks. I have been listening to Mennonite in a Little Black Dress while I rip the weeds, dump the weeds, and ditch the edges of beds.
The visit to PEI has influenced me to do more art.  I created a needle felted snail pincushion.  It came out really cute. Larkin, Silas, and Addi (my niece) also got into needle felting.  They all made needle felted doll heads.  Each one of them pricked their fingers, but kept going.  Addi was more upset that she wouldn't be allowed to continue because she pricked herself and less upset about the prick itself.
I've also taken out the spinning wheel that I bought two years ago.  I put a new drive band on the wheel and got going.  What a difference!  I'm spinning something that ACTUALLY looks like YARN!  This is very exciting!
Off to breakfast!

Mud Spuds

Today was a fun day! I had an opportunity to visit some great artists! My favorite stop was  Hope River Studio The shop owners specialize in pottery, weaving, and painting.  I purchased a container I will use for pens in my attic sewing room ( my studio) and a skein of hand-spun yarn that is absolutely gorgeous! I even got to meet the producers (two angora bunnies). I might even get myself  an angora bunny of my own so someday.
Life on the island is wonderful.  The views are so beautiful it almost feels like you have eaten the most delectable dessert ever.  We head home tomorrow.  I cannot say that I am happy about this. I have really loved being on the island and seeing the beautiful sites, eating food that was grown here, but my most favorite experience was meeting the kind and generous people of the island.  I will be back and I won't wait 11 years to visit again.
A few thing to note about PEI:
1. Homemade bread is cheap! At Mary's Bake Shop in Kensington, you can get a loaf of bread for $1.80!
2. Mud Spuds on Graham's Road are divine! $4.50 for a large carton.
G'Night!

Foxy Loxy

Today we went to the town of Victoria.  We got to see glass bead making.  Lark and Si were both given a bead. Larking got a fish bead and Silas got a tractor bead.  We ordered drawer pulls for our bathroom too! We are excited to have a little piece of PEI to use every day! 

Silas, Jamie, and I went to Brackley Beach with Nonna and Bwa Bwa for a bike ride. Fun! 

Our day finished with seeing a resident fox!  One of the neighbors up here called us down to check out Buddy. The kids even got to feed him! Well, I am a tired " Mombie." I'll be seein' yous!

Threes Company

The day started off great! Jamie and I went out for an early bike while Lark, Si, and Grannykins slept in.  We went to New Glasgow and picked up a couple of pottery mugs for Lark and Si.  We walked on the boardwalk and bought fudge too.  Yum!
The day went a little downhill by the afternoon, however, when I got stung by a jelly fish! youch!  Jamie helped me clean it out with vinegar and I spent the time making dinner with ice stuffed down my pants.  My mother has always said, " Things happen in threes..." Well, thing number two was hitting my ankle on the rocker when I was trying to get to the phone.  Thing three? Slicing my thumb on the rotary cutter.  Now, maybe things really happen in threes or maybe we just forget to count after three. Whichever it is these three things hurt and I don't care to have a fourth nor do I care to count a fourth.  Before I experience any other calamities, I am going to bed!

Sheep to Shore

We delivered the wool to Macauslands today.  Hard to think about wool on a day like today...it was about 95 degrees and the mill was like a sauna.  One of the workers said, "It's hard to believe people PAY to use saunas!" We ended up having 42 pounds of wool. We'll get blankets back in about 3 months.
On our way to the mill we checked out a quilt shop.  The workers were very friendly and helpful!
We had a picnic at a soccer field looking at a beautiful blue and white house.  A few minutes into eating a guy came along on his lawnmower.  His name is Cletis.  Turns out the ball field is really his.   He didn't mind us having lunch there in fact,  he invited us in to see his house and his wife gave us a tour.  The house is known as a fox house.  The home will be 100 years old in 2016 and was built from the riches made by selling fox furs.  You can check out the house here. The people of PEI are so friendly!
We also visited the wind farm and light house at the North Point shore.  If we had water shoes, we would have stayed all day to play on the reef.  On our way, we checked out the Co-op at Tignish. Pretty neat...kind of like a Co-op at home with Dan and Whits!
Tomorrow we'll head to Pottery by the Sea, Mary's Bake Shop, and The PEI Preserve Company.  Nonna and Bwa Bwa are joining us tomorrow! YIPEE!