Adventures in wisdom tooth surgery etc.....

Robyn had her wisdom teeth surgically removed on monday morning, and what a recovery! She actually did really well, but it is a lot slower than what the surgeon and nurses said it would be. Out of respect for her, I am not going to post the photos we have, but she has the chubbiest chipmunk cheeks! And now she is bruising too, so we hope that will go soon! We did have to make a trip back to the hospital to see the surgeon, as she started to bleed from the incisions on Wednesday, and we were a bit concerned. After getting her in, they told us it was all within the range of normal, so we were quite relieved! She still is not able to eat anything really solid yet, and it really hungry! Plus, this afternoon she spiked a fever and headache, so I think the flu is making itself known. Of course, when I went to buy some oscillococcinum tonight, they were all out, so I am trying Airborne instead. Just something to give her a boost!

It is hard to believe Christmas is almost here, and I really need to get a move on. We have been taking care of Robyn this week, and I am generally being lazy, but will post some of the ideas I have soon.

Finally, a new post!! And better yet, a swap update!!

Well, what can I say? I have been busy with life and don't get here to blog much, I spend more time on Facebook, though I miss blogging! So I am hoping to start up again soon!

I recently took part in the NOEL swap, which Monica and Carrie recently hosted. It had a theme of Noel, obviously, adn homespun holidays. I was partnered with Monica this time, and she really spoiled me!! Of course, as I am just sitting down to write this, I realized I didn't take photos of what I sent her, so please go check out her blog to see what I put in her box!

She sent me:

*a wonderful scented candle
*a banner she made with the names of Jesus
*an assortment of handmade stationery...Christmas cards, envelopes, labels, and a notebook! LOVE THIS!! It is all in a handmade pouch!!
*a wallhanging with metal stars, one of which is a cookie cutter
*a wallhanging with a fabric covered embroidery hoop and a wooden snowflake
* two other wallhangings, one with a snowman which says "Believe" ( I love snowmen!)
and the other is a metal sign which reads "Be bright and happy Merry Christmas"
*a handmade bar of Coffee Spice soap in a snowman tin
*a handmade fabric candy cane


I just love everything Monica sent!! Thank you so much for sharing with me Monica!! I enjoyed this swap so much, it is so much fun to put something together to send someone like this! Lots of photos follow!!

First it's Hurricane Bill...soon Danny will be paying a visit

Peggy's Cove taken from the Halifax Webcam.







Well, on Sunday we had our first hurricane/tropical storm of the year. The weather forecasters warned us that this could be a very serious storm, but in the end, it really wasn't a huge deal. We thankfully did not lose power, but were prepared for that scenario. Mike waited in line for an hour on Saturday for propane, as our BBQ tank ran out.

Saturday night, the surf was very high, and as we are now experiencing spring tides, the tides were very high. We went out to catch a glimpse, but it was so dark. We parked at a lookout with about 100 other people! The sound of the waves was incredible, and you could see a line of water moving towards shore, I was a bit nervous as to what we were in for after that!! Even creepier was that it was a dead calm all afternoon, and when we went to bed, there was not a sound, not a breath of air moving.






I woke up in the morning to gale force winds and heavy rain. Church was cancelled. My sunflowers blew down , but are now happily staked up again! We went out for a drive, and I was really nervous as the storm hadn't hit yet, and I didn't want to be caught in a huge gust of wind. We drove by the lookout again, but couldn't see the ocean much due to the number of people out!

After lunch, when the sun started to reappear, we drove to Terence Bay, thinking it would be a bit more sheltered there and we could get some good sea glass. HOLY SMOKES! The waves were just huge. The ocean was an angry, seething fury! I have never seen anything like it! We stopped and took some pictures and climbed to a nearby lighthouse, a safe distance from the water.

The following are all at Terence Bay.












Afterwards, we thought we would go to Peggy's Cove. Oh my, two weeks ago we were walking all over the rocks near the lighthouse, and on Sunday, we watched waves crash OVER the lighthouse! The water came over the rocks, and over the road that morning and also washed a gift store off its foundation! We watched one very stupid individual try and get close to the water to get wet. He barely got off that rock...his girlfriend got hit with a wave and got knocked over backwards, instead of being sucked in. While we were there, 3 teenage boys got hit with a wave and washed into the ocean, which we thankfully did not see. They were VERY FORTUNATE to be rescued!








See this guy on the rocks? He is really,really lucky to be alive. These are all from Peggy's Cove.



"Hello, I'm indestructible and VERY naive to what can happen by the sheer power of the sea"....






That is not a mountain in the distance..that is a wave!




At our beach around the corner, the boardwalk washed back into a lake, and a huge boulder appeared on one of the rocks we usually walk on, who knows where it came from! The beach was covered in kelp and seaweed - not a pleasant place for a swim right now!







So, now we are waiting to see what is going to happen with Tropical Storm Danny. We are already perpared, but I know there are many who do not take this seriously. It is much better to be prepared for the worst, and be pleasantly surprised when the storm isn't as bad as forecast!

Well, that was an unexpected break!

Sheesh, what a busy summer!! Robyn had her best friends visiting for 3.5 weeks, followed by another friend who was so homesick and anxious, we put her on a bus today and sent her home. It was a tough time for her, but she stuck it out as long as she could. She left just before Hurricane Bill approaches. It is looking to be a big storm,but I am praying God will protect us. We just built a tree fort this summer, so I hope it stays where we built it!

I will be back to more regular posting now that my company has gone, but here are a few photos of summer so far! As usual, click on the photo to see the whole picture.

Oue beach (Crystal Crescent)





The Bounty leaving the Tall Ship festival in Halifax




Mike as an Acadian, Jeremy as a cabin boy. These costumes are from a man who we go to church with, he has a company that makes replica weapons etc.




The Acadians




Here we are at the lookoff near Canning




My darling and I at Scott's Bay




My soon to be 7 year old




Sunset



Now to get busy and check up on blogging friends!

Okay...drumroll please..updates and photos!!!!

Okay...I'm back..I think! As usualy, just click on the photos to see the whole picture, I don't know why this is messing up! I am hoping to be posting more regularily..but summer is upon us and so is a mountain of gardens to weed, gardens to build, trees to cut, would to burn, and that is not mentioning anything INSIDE!!! So, what has been going on around here?? Well, in May we decided to tkae a trip back to Ontario for 2.5 weeks. The stress I was suffering before we left was huge, just huge! I do not like long drives, and I am a home body..I am happiest and most content being at home. No hankering for trips to Tahiti for this girl....being home is best! We stayed at my in laws for the first week. It was also when we all came down with a terrible cold, Jeremy and Robyn got the worst of it. Robyn spent much of her first weekend at her friend's house in Guelph. We poked around, and opened up Mike's parents pool. We also took a drive up to Creemore to buy a keg of beer for Mike's dad..he will only drink Creemore beer when he is home. I love old houses - this is one I have been eyeing for a very long time now! This is a wind farm in Melancthon County..there were so many wind turbines, I lost count, these were just a few of them! After visiting with my in laws, we went to stay at my mom and step dad's house. The first few days were fine...but my mom and I ended up in a big fight. I got the standard horrible daughter routine, then she branched out and attacked my husband and children. It was bad enough what she said to me..but dragging my family into it was not okay. Long story short..we said sorry ( I said sorry even though I didn't do anything but defend myself) and went on with our stay. I can't say anymore, as I am trying to forget about it, I am really, really hurt! Devin and Jeremy stayed at my sister's house across the street from my mom's. They had a blast! My brother and sister in law manage the local cemetary, and have lots of property to ride ATV's on. So, I got taken for my first ride! Driving with my sil was okay! Driving with my brother..was scary!! His ATV went fast. He tried to do a wheelie with me on the back. Then he drove me throught a bunch of swamps. I had flip flops on.......when we got back I had mud in places you don't usually have mud!! Here are my feet after... Here is my brother driving Jeremy (Jeremy nearly fell off the back of the ATV,and they DID do a wheelie!!) Sarah and I watching the boys play. The boys playing. My dad, brother and Jeremy blowing cans off the top of my brother's hit and miss engine. Here's a video of the ride I took with my brother...if it works!

We took advantage of the time we were there to have a family photo taken...




That's my nephew Dylan sitting beside Jeremy!! They look like brothers! I got to spend some great time with my sister and her kids too!




We spent the last few days at Mike's family cottage, and it was so relaxing and nice!!




First big fish for Devin!



Whew, one for dh too!




The trip home was long, and it was so good to be home! And we also got to bring back the old canoe that Mike's parents no longer wanted, yippeee!!

A long climb up mountains in New Brunswick!




Driving through the moose mounds in the St.John River valley...these are fenced areas with gates where moose and deer can get into the forest if they get on the road, but they can't get back out to the road again. I think! There have been loads of accidents in this area, and so this was all fenced off to protect people and critters alike.




Some kids will be really glad to be home!



A wee bit sleepy!



Home!!!!! And a gorgeous sunset!