Coffee Mugs!

My father used to say; "Coffee is the staff of life" or another; "Coffee is the official drink of heaven". All in jest, of course, but he does like his java.

I think I started way young. When I was little, when my dad would come home from work, I'd snag his lunch kit thermos and sneak to the kitchen to drink whatever dribbles of sweet, cold coffee I could get out. It was generally pretty empty - so maybe that's why no one stopped me, but I treasured those few drops (This was in the day - pre coffee makers in the teacher's lounge - my dad fixed his coffee in the morning at home, sugar & creamed it and took it to school in a bright orange thermos). So different now!

For me, it is the holistic image of coffee. It is warm, it is comforting and it tastes so nice with a dab of french vanilla flavouring (just a touch - that stuff is sweet & I don't like it sweet). Coffee is my comfort food.

I enjoy it in the morning, afternoon for a pick me up & evening as a relaxer. The only thing I require if I am drinking at home, is that it be in a nice mug.

I am eclectic for the most part with my style. My poor husband would never trust me to go pick out a sofa or other room decor b/c I think he'd fear he'd step into a time warp whenever he walked into a room. He raises the odd eyebrow at my wardrobe, but that's his problem, not mine, right?

I digress.

My mugs must reflect calm, serenity and happiness for me. Nothing tacky, nothing advertising a bank or insurance company or real estate agent. Ones with my name? Also tacky, not my style. I like matching. Sets come in 2, 4 or 6 and I can pull out the suitable number when we are entertaining and its time for coffee. Hmm, this might be one area I may be somewhat stodgy.

I know where each of my mugs came from and thankfully I am not clumsy so I can say my 3 favourite sets are 13-15 years old and complete. (Now that I've typed this, I may break one, thankfully I'm not superstitious.)

My newest fave (photo'd here) is slightly touristy, but full of meaning. A good friend from my previous town has a fine arts degree - specialty being pottery! She purchased this for me when I was leaving and with it she gave a promise that the next mug from her would be a handmade original. (I'm going to send her this link as a wee little reminder).

It is my big mug (I can have 1.5 cups of coffee for every 1 my hubby gets in the morning!) But I try not to let it encourage me to be greedy.

The comforts of life for me are simple. But I do value the importance of a good mug. I have more to say on coffee, but the mug beside me needs a top up so perhaps another day.

Tell me about your favourite mug! I'd love to hear what makes it so special!!

Fashion Cuffs

My first inclination was to do a post on how people suck. Not all people, of course, but the ones who come along and with no provocation or real motive, work to cause destruction for other people. Like I said, I don't want to make this my focal point today (too depressing), but I'll tell you where I'm coming from so you understand my frustration.

I was in Walmart last night (and from that visit, I'll share with you something else that will cheer you up after this depressing bit). As I was walking out of the store, there were 2 boys - maybe 11 or 12- leaning over their bikes that had been locked outside the store. They looked a little confused so I asked if there was a problem they needed help with. (I'm a teacher & a mom, I'm not going to walk by a kid in distress).

One boy showed me that on both the bikes, someone had come along and yanked the wires out of the brakes - essentially cutting the line. These kids had no brakes! How dangerous! What if they hadn't noticed the loose wires before hopping on and riding home?

I asked if they needed to use a phone, if they had an adult they could call. They said an older brother was in at customer service using the phone and telling the store what happened.

So sad. What a dumb, random thing by some hateful person. I didn't leave until the older brother was back and I knew they had someone older looking out for them. Before I left though, one kid says to me; "First I lost a quarter in the gumball machine, now this. What a bad night". Poor kid, I think his parents will be more miffed over the repair bill to his bike than the gum, but his perspective was cute.

Onto happier things!!

Ever heard of fashion cuffs?

I was wandering up the cleaner aisle near the food section of Walmart & I came across them (near some ladies discussing which mouse trap would be best - they wanted the sticky tape kind - again I digress). Anyway, I noticed these things and had to do a backtrack, then I had to whip out my phone to take a picture (sorry for the not so great image). It's a rubber glove with a cutesy cuff.

Have you seen the show (I don't even know if it's on anymore) about those cleaning ladies that wear rubber gloves with fur cuffs? I don't know, is it to make scrubbing toilets that much more glamorous? I think they come in and find all the gross things in someone's house. I hope they pay the person lots of money to be humiliated on tv like that!!

I've read parts of their book(my mom has it) and it is hard core overwhelming. The to do list for cleaning each room was depressing. I didn't like their style.

I'm much more of a fly lady (not that I follow that perfectly either), but it is less bruising to the ego when I fail. Bite size pieces help me feel good about the little accomplishments I've made. I wash a dish? I've blessed my home - see? I can feel good. At this point, the fly lady encourages you to sit back with a cup of tea. You've earned it. I SO like their philosophy!

Have you seen any crazy looking things out there that are supposed to make mundane chores suddenly more fun? For all the fancy things, I don't notice my house getting cleaner. That fancy thing would have to be living & breathing and pull up in a "Molly Maid" car! THEN I'd be impressed!

For the rest of it, cleaning is cleaning. Toilets are toilets. Fashion cuffs or not, sorry, I don't enjoy it any more than if I'm in my pj's with my sleeves rolled up.

Scrubbing bubbles has this gel you put on the inside of your toilet. I tried this and my daughter freaked, calling it poison jello and she totally regressed all her potty skills b/c she was so afraid of it! Finally I had to wipe it all off so she'd use the toilet again.

Know what I like best? Vinegar & water! Cleans, is CHEAP and if my child decides to dip a finger in, it won't strip the skin (NOT that I leave things around for them - just clarifying that point). I also like baking soda.

What are your favourite chores? Do you have any? What makes them more fun? Any secrets you'd be willing to share??

Child Leashes

Whoa, bring on the controversy! Or maybe not! =)

This was the topic of discussion on our local radio station yesterday during the drive home show here in Edmonton. The 2 hosts were inviting people to call in with their views in support for or against the practice of using restraining harnesses on a child.

Have you seen them? The little thingy that looks like your child is on a leash so they don't run off. Sometimes the child is hooked up in a nifty looking little backpack type harness, and other times, it really does look like a leash, the child has something around their wrist which is attached to your wrist.

Have you used one?

I did have one in my possession with my oldest child. I never did actually use it, but at times I was tempted. I don't think I ever had it on my person when I was thinking about it though. My big boy was a wanderer. He'd just bolt without warning - Fast! Didn't matter when, didn't matter where, he was just so busy & full of energy that the details weren't concerning, but WE were concerned!! At times it was scary!

The male host of the show made a few statements which I thought were very ignorant. As follows; "What happened to good old fashioned parenting? When I was little, my parents taught me not to run off, so I didn't." and later; "Why don't parents just teach their children to stick close?" and then; "This is for those parents who choose easy methods."

Unenlightened man with no kids of his own!! Sounds like I did before I had children.

Of course he had many people call in and comment how right he was and how utterly ridiculous parents looked and that truly it was some form of deranged child abuse.

And then a few moms called & told the host a) you're not a parent, so shut-up on something you know nothing about and b) don't knock it until you have multiples of the same age or even multi aged children who are young and take off. It is a safety concern.

I think I understand both sides of the fence. On the one hand, the fellow was out of line with some of his statements. Totally from a perspective of never having walked in the shoes. I don't like how radio hosts will start a discussion, then totally knock down anyone who doesn't agree with them. That's not called discussion.

On the other hand, I have seen people use it like a leash. Like they are leading their child, giving it a yank if the kid doesn't move fast enough. Might as well be a puppy.

Have you seen these? What do you think?

American Idol

Do you think you can sing? I mean, really! Would you be in a line up among thousands of others and truly believe you are THE ONE?

American Idol is interesting. It seems to bring out that yearning in so many people's gut that THEY LONG to be known somehow. LONG to be famous and live the illusion they think comes along with that.

Again, I say really? Do you SEE the garbage truly famous people have to deal with in their lives? No thank you!!

I have known people who think they can sing. What do you say to a friend who belts it all out totally off key and likely belongs on the bad audition AI reels? Are you someone who is honest?

I am amazed at all the people who are so disillusioned by thinking they can hold a tune, let alone sing at star quality. I'm sorry I'm such a meanie, but self-awareness can go a long way in terms of getting you places. Be realistic about where your skills & giftings lie. If you're not really sure, ask someone who loves you what you are good at. I'll bet they'll know!!

In terms of this season. There have been a few surprises and a few times I've shaken my head and in honesty, I've not yet even watched last weeks episodes because I was getting a little irritated.

WHY oh wise judges OH WHY did you use the save at round 11 on Casey Abrams? He is a reasonable musician and will likely be successful at making a career of it, but at NO point would most people have thought he would even make it to the finals.

Sure, I thought a few others would go before him; I had gauged a mid-season exit for him, saving the finals for those like Lauren, Pia & James.

So you waste your save, way too early in the season and what have you left when Pia is asked to go? Nothing but regret. I'm so glad that the exposure was enough and her career is already starting. WTG Pia!!

Like I said, I've not watched last weeks show, but I heard Casey is now officially gone. Voted out at 11 and again at 6. That says something judges; America did not see what you apparently saw. I doubt HE had a contract within 24 hours of being voted off.

Have you been watching? Know any stars or wanna be stars? Do YOU have star potential?

Stranger Danger

Would you leave your kid with a stranger? I don't mean a stranger in the sense of a care provider or teacher, but someone you literally don't know.

Tonight, I dropped my biggest boy off at his Cubs group and went to drive my middle man to his Beaver group only to find the group wasn't there. There's been slight communication issues at times and that's a whole other gripe, but beyond that location, I didn't know where to look for them.

I voted. The school where the Beavers group usually meets was hosting a polling station (likely why the Beavers were not there). I hadn't known where I was supposed to vote so I checked & sure enough this was the place. I figured since I was there...

My middle man was sad. There he was in his green sweat pants, his blue beaver shirt, his beaver vest with his decorated beaver tail pinned on the back. Add some little coke-bottle glasses and I think my son is adorable. But when he realized voting was the only thing happening at this place and his group was nowhere to be found, he wrenched up his face and cried.

So, the classic pick-me up for a 5 year old - I said let's go to McDonalds and you can play on the play thing while we wait to pick up your brother. Instant smile - of course. I had an ice coffee so instant smile for me too!

While there, he started playing with a cutie little blond named "Tatie" (Katie, I believe). She was there with 2 teens (16 maybe?).

After awhile, the teens started to walk out and the guy asks me "Excuse me, do you mind watching my baby sister for a few minutes?" I'm surprised, but what do you say except "Sure, not a problem".

5 minutes later they return. I assumed perhaps they had a smoke break just outside the restaurant.

A few minutes later they are at the door again. This time they don't say anything to me, they just tell Katie they are going to check on the kitty and did she want to come or stay. She wanted to stay so they left. I check my watch 7:45.

5 minutes pass, then 10 and at 15 minutes, I'm now standing up, scanning the parking lot thinking how furious I'd be if my teen left my baby with an absolute stranger. Of course I was there reading my book on human trafficking in Canada. Not a fantastic image.

My parking lot scan finally saw the couple making their way back from wayyyyy across the lot (McD's shares with a few big box stores). They return and it's time for us to go.

Wow! All I can say was they lucked out. I could have been anyone really. I could have escorted that cute little blond to my van and driven away.

How trusting would you be? Do you trust yourself to judge a book by its cover? Me being the figurative book here. Do you think you could trust someone based on their appearance? What would you have done in my shoes?

Apple Trees

A big move loomed for us last summer. My hubby took a job 2 provinces over and so house hunting & other mega details consumed us!

We did a house hunting marathon trip mid-July and saw 26 houses in 2 days. Exhausting! More on that in another post.

The house we fell in love with (or moreso I fell in love, my hubby settled, but whatever) had a beautiful apple tree in the backyard.

Where I grew up, apple trees are prone to all sorts of ugly diseases & pesty insect infestations. It is hard to get a tree so big & beautiful & so impressively covered in the small green apples we saw forming.

Come fall, after we made our big move and the tree was ours, our impression was broadened.

On the one hand, we were impressed that this tree was covered, literally covered in apples. Some red, some green, some were large and some were small. The previous homeowner (who had lived in the house 50 years) had done grafting of several of the branches, thus producing a multi-variety fruit tree!!

My apple crazed son was in heaven! He climbed this tree and sat in his perch happily munching & tossing the cores into the yard (hmmm not so appreciated). He figured he had the monopoly since he was the only kid tall enough to climb, so he would ration out the choicy apples from the top of the tree to those he deemed worthy. That his siblings actually allowed him to claim this role is beyond me.

The downside; We had SO many apples!!! Hundreds! I am not kidding that these branches were bent from the weight! As fall progressed & we were doing the necessary upgrades to the house before winter set in, the tree was ignored & we did not pick all the hundreds of apples before the first frost.

Ever smell eau de rotton apple? It is a bit of a cidery smell that reminds you of yucky fermentation. That was our backyard for the rest of fall. The rains came and the apples that fell were mushy & gross and I'd put on rubber gloves & go collecting occasionally. I thought - well, the birds will peck at the rest over winter. (Thinking back to my berry bushes at our old house - birds would swarm them for 3 days straight mid-January - pick them clean, then move to the next yard - I thought that was a great system).

But no birds came. Even though there is a cute feeder that was left in the tree. I keep smacking my head on that feeder. No birds means no need for the feeder. Buh-bye feeder.

It is now spring and I have a tree that is FULL of shrunken, shriveled, brown, dehydrated apples that seem reluctant to fall on their own.

Lesson learned. And I am spending my all too important time whacking the branches with the end of a rake to knock them down, rake them up and start over. There are still lots to go!

My children find this hilarious and I had to put a quick stop to a swinging broom & swinging baseball bat. I value my head.

We're not as fond of the apple tree now. They seem to do well here & all our neighbours have them and everyone has way more apples than they know what to do with. Various foodbank groups will come pick ripe apples for payment in apples to supply their hampers! Wonderful - but so many people call, you can't even get on the list.

I think the apple tree's days are numbered.

Buh-bye apple tree.

Sweet Tooth

Parenting will likely take up many posts. Having 3 kids means I have lots of opportunity to have opinions - both on my strategies & perhaps those of others.

Many years ago, when I was pre-kid, pre-husband, living life fancy & free, I worked in a retail store for an NHL team that is no longer in existence (although rumour suggests they are returning - we'll see).

We were in a mall and had a front store window facing the corridor. The window was separated into its own space by a row of lockers & we had a lovely lady come and "do the window" for us once a month.

It was likely this season we are currently in - I recall jelly beans & chocolate being part of our display. It was a delightful mixture of candy & hockey - I see the natural blend, don't you?

In comes a man quite suddenly one day, on the heals of his very young (maybe 4?) very husky (at least 20/30lbs+ over what a 4yo girl should be). She was focused & very determined to enter our display and eat those candies.

The other staff & I stood with eyebrows raised as this dad tried to calm his hysterical daughter who by then was screaming & fighting against his hold "BUT WHO IS GOING TO EAT THEM?????"

WOW!

I think the dad finally got her out of the store and I recall thinking of course MY child will NEVER be like that.

Fast forward 15 years.

I have a 3 year old daughter with an insane sweet tooth. Suddenly the table has turned & I am the parent who must be the bad guy, laying down the law for the sake of my daughter's health.

I have 2 boys who will sneak into the fridge for apples & pears. A veggie tray left on our table will be doomed without fail. Then I had a girl.

This girl will climb, will sneak, will lie, will steal all to get her sweet fix!!!

I am the mom with child locks on my UPPER cabinets.

I have found in her closet; yogurt, margarine, honey, brown sugar and then anytime a brother gets a goodie bag (which they tend to forget about the treats in lieu of any toy within), she will lay low, bide her time until they are at school. At this point, I'll find her under a bed or in a closet, a pile of wrappers around her.

I suddenly can sympathize with that father. My daughter is not overweight, but we definitely worry about this obsession that would quickly lead her to poor health choices. We offer her healthy food and an occasional treat and really hope that this is something that will pass.

How do you respond to your sweet toothed child?