Crying over You

I remember this walk through my yard one summer day.

Of course we had more rain than sun, so this was a normal view through my camera lens.

As I sit here tonight listening to the wind bang on my window....telling me that snow could arrive tomorrow, I am trying not to cry over a summer that didn't fully appear this year.
(I AM grateful for the days we DID have....but somehow I feel a bit ripped off;)

I am a lover of all things full of color, and looking out my window today I noticed that the white sky of Alberta winter is headed this way.
Yet again.

Thankfully  I took MANY pictures of color over the last few months....despite raindrops in my eyes...and I am going to pull them out to stare at them when this white world closes in on me for another 6 months.
~i swear winter only left a few weeks ago~

One can always find some sort of  bright side: 

My skis have been loudly yelling at me to take 

them from their shed storage~

 I will soon be able to quiet them down.

the farmer...and his field

For hours yesterday morning,

a thunder and lightning storm sat above our heads....not wanting to move.

It left us with almost 4 inches of rain (according to the rain gage),

and it left flooded fields in its wake,

overflowing ditches, and washed out roads.

So when THIS field was brought to my attention just a couple miles down the road-

....I couldn't resist.

I HAD to kayak down the new river which now snaked its way across the canola  field.

The Farmer gave in to my seemingly ridiculous idea, and loaded the kayaks.

Ben came along to try it out, but after seeing the whirlpools of water and listening to the rush of it all as it torpedoed out of the culverts, decided to hang back and be our photographer.

The Farmer~ about to enter his field in a way he had never done before.

Forget trucks, tractors, seeders, sprayers, or combines.

This time- it was a kayak.

And we were off. 

Into an unknown and unheard of adventure....

paddling forward to see what was around the next corner.

{I'm thinking- 

canola.}

What followed was a very fast and pretty sweet kayak.

Oh I WISH I would have been daring enough to bring the camera through that canola river jungle.

It was beautiful, surrounded on all sides by millions of canola flowers.

And even though there is actually a river flowing through Farmer's field now....

it was a nice thought to think we were making the best of it.

We hit whirlpools of water, which- 

when we hit them head on, resulted in water pouring in over the front of the kayak.

I don't think I've ever been doused with water like that while kayaking.

(Who would of thought it would happen in a canola field.)

Of course...we had to bail out before we hit the actual creek.

It's so high now and supposedly quite dangerous with the logs, trees, and whirlpools.

(As much as I insisted to try it out- I guess I don't know my creeks and dangers of;)

We dragged our kayaks out of the water, and hiked our way back to semi-drier ground.

Considering we were hauling 2 kayaks through soft mud, and having to battle 4 foot stalks of canola,

I think it was one of the prettiest hikes I've ventures out on.

It was probably the best way to make lemonades out of (raining) lemons.

And so much fun....

I just had to go one more round.

Definitely tops the list for 

~Best Field Adventure~

Rainy Day...again

Finding myself wanting to do this, on yet another rainy day....

sit by the fire

lay out and relax

have some sugar and spice

curl up into a ball

cuddle

sit by the fire some more

hang out with people i love

eat

Another rainy day.

With this constant gray weather,

I may just gain a few extra pounds.

(Does it count for as many "bad calories" if they're whole

wheat Sin-ammon Buns....?)

Have a Happy Weekend everyone!

Books+Rain+Me

There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away,

Nor any coursers like a page of prancing poetry.

This traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of toll;

How frugal is the chariot

That bares a human soul.

~ Emily Dickinson

When I was little and in elementary school, we had IRT, or: Independent Reading Time.

THAT was my favorite "subject"...and even when it was Math, or Spelling, or Science Time...I always seemed to have a book hidden somewhere on my lap hiding under my desk to steal a few lines here and there when the teacher wasn't looking.

I remember reading so much when I got home from school my mom had to ban me from reading- at least until I actually did my chores. I used to used to visit the library more than the playground at recess time. And of course there were the times of hiding under covers with the flashlight and my new book, or even sitting in the closet til all hours of the night, having dragged my lamp into the cramped space with me.

As time carried on, marriage happened, kids came, along with every day routine, and I find my reading time has diminshed somewhat.

But today! Today it is raining and windy and gray. And I have a couple of books waiting here on the coffee table begging to be picked up and devoured. Today would be a good day to read....my chores may have to wait for a bit:)

I have been told that what you do in moderation- your kids will do in extreme. These are actual pictures of my kids as I have found them throughout the past few months. They have a reading bug that I find a BIT annoying at times- especially when there are chores to do! But I can say I understand.....:)

Here we are walking to our vehicle through  the parking lot after a swim one day....I turned to find Ben like this:

Corben....who could not stand to read just a few months ago:

Trying to get them to come in and eat:

Happy Day to you, friends!

(and maybe some happy reading in there too)