Sent on a rabbit trail from Dewey's Treehouse I found myself laughing out loud and alone with my silence....read further....

Extroverts therefore dominate public life. This is a pity. If we introverts ran the world, it would no doubt be a calmer, saner, more peaceful sort of place. As Coolidge is supposed to have said, "Don't you know that four fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would just sit down and keep still?" (He is also supposed to have said, "If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it." The only thing a true introvert dislikes more than talking about himself is repeating himself.)

Thank you Jonathan Rauch.

Tesser. See A Wrinkle in Time.

I think we did all our errands in town this morning. The kids didn't even come back into the house but went straight to playing in the sun. They'll come in when they're hungry enough. I'm enjoying being able to sneak my lunch at the computer. (Normally off limits with food.) I'm also enjoying Faro del Caribe. Since we are 20 minutes from town we've started taking schoolwork to work on in the car. It's proving to be a good system.

The countdown is on for Grandma's house. There is anticipation also for the Family Fun Night that comes first. It's been missed these last 3 years while we were in in Costa Rica and then last year it was cancelled. Horrors! Hence the choice not to leave for Grandma's (15 hours of driving) until 7:30 PM. Thank God for a sister in a suitable overnight town. "Mom and Grandma won't even be there!" said CTM in explanation of our trip south, "They're going scrapbooking." Yay! It's a beautiful retreat centre in Boone, NC called Valle Crucis Conference Center. A whole weekend of scrapbooking with my Mom in such a beautiful place will be fantastic. The kids too will enjoy their hot dogs and croquet (or whatever) with Gran'Bob. I'll enjoy our food more. Experience has shown we don't need to bring snacks!

Reports of bad storms, landslides, etc. in Costa Rica. We wonder how we would have dealt with the difficulties. The main road to our place has been closed for more than 2 weeks due to a bridge washing out. Even the side road detour was washed out for a few days. We would likely have been the only ones to not be sure how to make it work. The Costa Ricans we knew were very resourceful. Some days the longings to be there again are stronger than others.

Really I have nothing to write. I have been reading the blogs of family and friends and feel lonely. Wish I could tesser.

a pretty scene from the "broken tree road"


serious pumpkin carving



A busy weekend and start to the week full of house renos, laundry, testing, winter clothing shopping, long distance phone calls, preparing for and attnding homeschool meetings, gynastics, and sundry other things. The usual. Finally today no plans until this evening and a chance to "reclaim" the house. School of course is the main focus of every day. (Gotta put that in there to make sure you know we ARE doing school!) A decision to attend a scrapbooking weekend next weekend has me realizing that all my pictures are on disk. Better spend some time deciding and printing.....there are thousands to choose from. I shouldn't run out of material unless it's album pages.

The children have discovered Lord of the Rings. BTG has enjoyed The Hobbit some time ago and now has devoured the first two of the trilogy in record time (each book in 2 days.) I've been wanting to reread them myself but find I am not able to keep up with her so that we can discuss stuff. Not that I have time to lie on the couch all day and read anymore. Thanks Mom for your patience in days gone by and thanks for not laughing too loudly at me now. CTM is halfway through The Hobbit. If you've enjoyed the trilogy you might like to find a copy of Veggietales' Lord of the Beans. It's a different twist; makes me laugh and my (childless) sister groan.


PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Niagara Falls


a bit damp


fall in ontario


such pretty weeds

Race Day

A beautiful morning provides the backdrop for the annual race in support of the city's hospital. This year our boys are geared up and ready to go. CTM makes it through the 3.5 km race and K2 comes in 3rd place in the 800 m. BTG joins the butterflies.