stuff

there are days when you just want to scream.
there are days when you just need to cry.

the past couple of weeks have been pretty emotional.
and pretty hard.

I've been holding out for this camping weekend for awhile, knowing that it'd be a great time away, with some trusted friends. Spiritually, emotionally recharged, I'd be ready to face anything.

It's been cancelled.

So, today, we're going to talk about the practicalities vs the impracticalities of a little thing I like to call "ditch camping".

Ditch camping is when all else has failed, so you find a nice ditch somewhere in the country.
Choice spots should be relatively dry, and unditch-like :: there shouldn't be too much garbage, avoid dead animals and hobos.
Ditches provide shelter in wind and dust storms, and in the case of a tornado, you'll be below ground level and safer than most. Ditches DO often flood. So don't camp in the rain.
You don't have to actually put your tent up in a ditch.. you can just lay the tent over you while you sleep if that's easier. Also, you don't have to go far to use the bathroom, as more than likely, you'll be in some sort of biological mess/waste.

that whole thousand word thing....

So, today at work we stopped by the Heinkle Farm (home to Shelter Valley Folk Festival) where there was a yard sale/ auction / bake sale/ music/ kids events thingy going on.
A fundraiser.... for a barn.... not just any barn mind you, money to replace the barn for the Weirsma's, who's barn burnt down Easter morning this spring.
How fantastic, that we live in a community that is willing to put together events to support each other when their luck is down!
I am blown away by the kindness of people.

There was a small bulletin board set up with some pictures of their barn, before the fire, events, parties, work, daily life, and some pictures of the results of the fire...
But the picture that wrecked me was, one of their daughters.... walking away from the barn, snow on the ground, eyes brimming with tears, pain across her face.... the barn in flames in the background.

and more

in following with yesterday's post::

here's an excerpt from my favorite section of our local paper... It's the part I look forward to the most each day....

TODAY IN HISTORY (July 11th- I held on to this one...)

1919 - Six carloads of Gypsies showed up in Cobourg. Gypsy caravans had been a common sight, but now, automobiles had driven their wagons off the roads, so the Gypsies switched to cars too. They were still met with distrust. When one gypsy began to tell fortunes, Chief Ruse escorted the bunch out of town.

(lol, now they pay them to come to the waterfront festival?)

1935 - The Superior Store on Ontario Street in Port Hope had Aylmer peas on sale (who records this stuff?????) two tins for 21 cents. Sunkist oranges were 25 cents a dozen.



so, I'm thinking of heading down to the archive place to see what other gems I can dig up!!!

read all about it

discover all the news...
comon' and read all about it...
discover all the clues ....

(another cheesy tv song, I loved the show though)
Today, the NEWS!

but first, a word from our sponsors... errr.. actually not really

CBF~ if you're reading this, my home computer keeps freezing when I go to type on buddy's page, but I'll set up a vox so we can chat more about the Snoezelen room stuffs, I got some ideas :)

and now, back to regular programming

errr, have you lost it?

did I ever have it?

right.....

ok, so our local newspaper is generally lacking in any "news", so I turn to the Bean nearly daily- paper and a coffee? what better a way to end a day? (I'd start the day like that, but no way am I getting up any earlier!!!) Today, not a Toronto Star to be seen... and nary a Globe and Mail... and so, I settled on the NY Times... bad choice. It took my misery from low to sub-low (ok, it's late) ... the articles were breaking my heart. I won't even go into details about most of the stuff I read... oh!! but this one article-(which made me laugh more than anything) people in Manhattan are paying the same per square footage as they're paying for condos ... as for their parking spaces!!!
So... I'm miserable. miserable-er?
And grabed a Link magazine instead.
After just two article, the world is a great place to live again... a land of benevolence (in the true meaning of the acted out word), a land with a six string nation guitar... go grab one when you can, there's a stack at the train station, at the Bean... and a few other places....

700 club

Growing up, I was a big fan of the sesame St scene.
I'd get SOOOOOO grumpy when the 700 club came on, marking the end of children's television for another morning...

I'd like to welcome you to post number 700.

I don't know if they count the drafts that will eternally sit in the draft box.
Those posts would be the ones with to much swearing or slamming of people.

That said... welcome to slamswear-fest

Today was horrible. I feel like shit. I feel abused, I feel walked on, and I feel unsupported.
Please pray that I don't stoop to the level some people feel the need to walk on, pray that I'd be gracious, grin, and remember to pray for them...
errr... is it wrong that I pray just so that God will heap tonnes of fiery coal on their heads and their heads will catch on fire and they'll stink of smoke?

tiny stage... giant fun

still no titles....
comm'on blogger... little help?

"who do you think you are?
you better take a look
who do you think you are?
you better read a book
who do you think you are....."

Cheesy little ditty I sometimes get stuck in my head... either some old "Smitty" or a piece from TVO... I can't remember now, but it gets in my head quite a bit... anyone remember what it's from?

anyway...

A little while ago, someone asked me what my family thought about the fact I was(am) so independent.
The question came from someone that I view as quite independent in her own right... the question surprised and scared(?) me.... I'd never even really thought of myself as independent.. so for this person to ask... after knowing me for such a short period of time, and with no real provocation... well.. I wasn't sure how to answer...
It's been a long time since someone asked me a question that made me question so much about me. I'd never thought of myself as being overly independent, but I guess I'm going to have to rethink that whole idea.
In fact.. I'm not sure that I'm even able to finish this post.

title?
errr. blogger seems to be having some technical difficulties... and if you've ever tried to report an error to them before... you know I'm not going to bother!
(side note:: I've spent a good hour trying to report an error, only to find my self sent in circles!)
in addition to the title bar not working... this post has posted itself... errrr... confused?

SOOOO, today's topic "self centred OR self centred"

ever have one of those moments? When everything is ok, and you don't have a worry or a thought of what you're suppose to be doing... where you're suppose to be .... what you should have done earlier? When you don't even think about what might be on the news.... or think about your blog...
I had a few moments like that this weekend.
And it was refreshing, but made me want more... when did life get so busy?

self.... centred.... centred in what? on what?
is that being self centred?

well, I WAS warned

um... chickens and cows....
eggs and butter
hemp and tie dye...

I was warned by a few before I came to visit Mandamanda to not get too caught up in it all... but.

After learning HOW to milk a cow (by hand and by machine) and after chasing the turkeys and moving the chickens and churning some butter, and meeting someone who lives off the grid, hauls her own water and all... after watching the trees and the lakes.....

I'm putting a sign in the back window of my car that reads

"ask me, I'll join your commune"

summer sounds

This weekend was the big "Soiree Au Revoir" for the Sheff's house... It's not sold yet, and after this weekend's activities, I think there's more sadness to it's sale... it's just a matter of time.

Everything went off without a hitch, and I spent some time just taking it all in.
I watched and I listened.

The campfire's pop, Melwood strumming, singing... the brat pack's giggles and Jacky's rumbling, people resting... enjoying each other's company, crickets, poetry, a small tousled head poking out from a sleeping bag, clinking of glasses .... fireflies playing in the willow branches.

summer.
♥