little rock
well i am here in little rock. on my own with three little boys . it's a little daunting on many levels. not the least is just the physical exertion. the baby is almost three, however he is still a baby and likes to be picked up and carried. he also is an imp and likes to see nanny run.
on my way down the time between flights was very short. i ended up running the length of the montreal airport and chicago o'hare. i sprained my knee. it is possible. my friend who is a nurse told me so.
it hurts and is weak. i have reinjured it twice trying to run after the baby. he just laughs and laughs. today it was raining very hard, so we decided to make a trip to the library. we got caught in a torrential downpour. after paying a king's ransom in library fines, we were ready to head for home.

not the baby. he decided it would be a real joke to hide from nanny and his brothers in the book shelves. everytime i catch a glimpse of him he'd be gone again. finally a kind hearted gentleman helped me corner him. i managed to haul him out to the car , he was asleep before i could fasten his seatbelt . what an imp.
we've been sleeping together. his parents believe in the "attatchment" theory of parenting. he has never slept alone. at one point the large king size bed had 5 people in it plus a dog and cat. the two older boys have moved into their own room and the dog sleeps on the chair.
so it's me and the baby in the big bed. and he likes to cuddle. he also likes to feel a boob ,(no doubt left over from his nursing days) it's a little disarming to wake up being groped by a persistant 3 year old!
the two older boys are very self sufficient. they go to bed on their own. they have a story time and say a beautiful prayer their mother taught them. it goes like this:

Angel Blessing

Angels bless, and
angels keep

angels guard me
while i sleep

Bless my heart
and bless my home

Bless my spirit
as i roam

Guide and guard me
through the night

And wake me
with the morning light

Amen


isn't that so lovely? the middle child whispered it to me last night. i filled up. it was said with such quiet ernestness
their mother has prepared them well for this time away from her. she has taught them that their parents are watching over them always even when they are not here in the flesh.
i hope i can honour their trust..

my heart sings "Obama"!

sunday, feb. 4th, 2007

this is a photo of my front door this morning. when i went to let the dog out, there was two feet of snow. poor "lucky" , he didn't know where to go. lucky, for him the way the wind blew it provided a tunnel under the drifts of snow , so he managed to pee . then we had to blaze a path to the bird feeder. the gluttenous pigeons were waiting for breakfast. it is an aerodynamic mystery to me how they manage to fly in 100 km winds.
the bay is covered in ice. all is white except for a charcoal pathway ,where the pulp and paper carrier cut through the ice.

it has been stormy all of january and it looks like february will be much of the same. well , not for me. i am flying south exactly two weeks from today. first, to little rock ,arkansas, to look after my beautiful grandsons , while their parents are galavanting in europe.

then , i will go to florida for two weeks. playtime with my wonderful sister in law, and sister and brother in law. they know how to enjoy life and are generous enough to let me tag along.
then a stop in toronto to help my oldest sister celebrate her birthday. she definetely does not act (or look) her age.
then home, the 25th of march. by then the christmas wreath will come down, and hopefully the snow will be a distant memory. i'll be watching for the tulips and crocuses ( croci?) that i planted in that lovely warm day in september.
this afternoon we are going skiing. my daughter , her family and in-laws. i'm hoping the sun will be out by then.this will be my wee grandaugther 's first day out skiing. her older brother is very accomplished at cross country skiing, downhill skiing and snow boarding.
my skiing skills have not progressed in the twenty or so years i've been skiing. i just don't fall down as much . i shuffle around counting to myself. adn enyoying the winter wonderland around me. i stiffen up when i go down hill. telling myself to bend my knees. instead i lock them into rigidity.and go whizzing down the hill, wanting to yell "wheeeeeeee" all the way down.