A MIRACLE ARRIVES! OR "MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME OVER"

I'm thrilled to introduce Soren Timothy Isaiah, my Little Prince!

I mean come on people, that is one beautiful baby!! 

But I need to back up and start from the beginning to tell you about how this little miracle arrived, cause he came in with a bang!

I received the long awaited call from my daughter about 10:45 pm telling me the labour pains had started. "OK! How about you call me in a couple of hours, let me know how things are going and if you want me to come over."

This is her first baby and we were all very excited! I slept fitfully and woke up wide awake at 1:00 am. My Mommy sense was tingling.....so I messaged Randi and her husband Dan.

See that? Right there? "Maybe you should come over", that was her response.

So I got a few things together and as they live not too far away, I walked. I message Dan that I'm here and suddenly the door flies open and he yells "I've called the ambulance!" Not the response I was expecting. I walk up the stairs and down the hall and into the kitchen to see my daughter on the floor, bearing down.

"RANDI! ARE YOU PUSHING??!!" Remember that "maybe I should come over" part? It looks like I'm about to deliver a baby so I wash my hands and assume the position. Fortunately, along comes the calvary in the form of Todd.

Yup, he's the guy who gets to catch Soren, in her hallway, nowhere near a hospital. Thanks Todd!! Soren came out with a yelp, fat and pink and perfect, all 8 lbs 10 oz of him. The incredible look on my daughter's face of instantaneous relief and love is one I will never forget. 

So here comes pics of my miracle and because I'm new at this grandparent thing there are a few...like a lot...like I tried to pare it down...

MIRACLE

Perfect little mouth

Perfect little nose

Perfect little feet

A carbon-copy of his Dad

My little miracle

But there is a side note to this story. Remember Todd, the Calvary? As they were loading Randi and the baby into the ambulance Todd told me he really needed to have this amazing experience. You see, just a couple days earlier he was first responder to a local beach where a child had drowned. He needed the healing balm of a new life. 

Soren has arrived and we are all smitten with him. And we've determined my daughter is one of those lucky women who zips through labour like nobody's business (for the record, I spent 18 hours bringing her into the world!). Next time she says "Maybe you should come over" I'm going to be the one yelling "Call the Ambulance!"

WAITING FOR A MIRACLE

I've been waiting for a miracle to happen. Maybe you are too. Maybe that seems like the only solution to the situation. So this post is an encouragement to all of us!

Because I happen to believe in miracles. I've even seen a few spectacular ones. Here's an example: my son is only about a week old and my mother and I are admiring him as he lays on the floor on a blanket beside me. Suddenly my 3 year old daughter decides to take a flying leap, off the couch and her trajectory is directly for Adrian's head. Inexplicably and almost perceptively Adrian somehow is moved in a lightening fast second. Where his head used to be is where Randi's feet land and what could very well have been fatal is miraculously avoided. 

We have had practically no rain for over two weeks. The ground is parched and dry, grass brown and crunchy. But nearly every farmer in southern Ontario got their miracle today when it finally decided to rain and with more coming for the rest of this week.

We live in a miraculous world. I mean just look around! Mountains,  wildlife, the variety alone is astounding. Bees that collect pollen from flowers and low and behold we get a liquid gold miracle - honey!

The miracle I'm waiting for is the birth of my grandson. Things were ramping up last night and I thought I would be posting some amazing pics today but he's decided to hold off. 

This miracle is officially due tomorrow, so like many of you I'm waiting. 

Miracles happen every day. I believe in a Miracle-working God who made this miracle working universe. 

We are all in this together and I'm right there with you, waiting for a miracle. 

GLAMPING BY LULU

This weekend, for the first time ever, my hoomans took me glamping. They prefer real camping when they canoe in instead of drive a car, but I've never been in a canoe before and they wanted to make sure I would be ok. Besides, there is lots of talk about this new Little Prince making his arrival soon and they didn't want to be  too far away. I hope the Little Prince doesn't try to eat my food...

We went to a place called "Bon Echo" but to get a good look at the cliffs, we had to get in a canoe. I was a little nervous getting in...

But once we got going, I LOVED it! 

And the cliffs are pretty cool with old indian drawings on them and everything!

My next adventure was to stop and climb up to the top of the cliff. Talk about scary - the stairs were! I did OK going up but coming down took a lot of concentration on where to put my paws!

But with lots of encouragement, I did it!

I was dog tired after all that!

We slept in a tent which was OK. I only tried to get on the bed once...

Next morning was breakfast, one of my favourite things!

And my Hooman always remembers to share her coffee with me   (I 'm only allowed a little)

After breakfast there were more adventures! We took a hike in the woods and I got to run free.

But I had to keep waiting for my hoomans to catch up. Then I watched my hoomans Paddle board, something they had never done before and then we went swimming. I don't like swimming very much, but there were pepperoni treats if I went in, so I did and even dog paddled a little!

So, I have to say, I really like glamping! It's one of my new favourite things!

GEAR DOWN

My new bike, a purple Raleigh with 7 gears is often my choice mode of transportation right now. When I picked it up, the staff at the Bike shop reminded me: "now don't forget to gear down when you are coming to a stop."

I actually never did this. I usually just kept the old girl in 5th gear and away I went whether it be up, down, fast, slow, stopping or going. But there is a good reason to gear down and that is to help you keep that steady cadence while you bike along. It's easier on your knees too, which is a bonus when your knees are over 50 years old. 

Often in life, we are going one speed, full tilt ahead. So, let me encourage you to "gear down". Take it easy on yourself when you are facing a steep hill of to-do's ahead. Gear down and come to a stop before you make that next move into the intersection. Don't be a bull in a china shop! 

Gear down and sip a cold one, in this case a Perrier water mixed with a bit of fruit juice.

Get outside and have lunch on a patio!

How about a chilled blueberry soup and spinach mandarin salad? 

I'm pretty sure your quality of life, that steady cadence you are aiming for, will be easier to maintain if you change your way of tackling it.

So, grab that bevy, get out in the garden, put your comfy slippers on, and Gear Down. 

CELEBRATE CANADIAN STYLE

It's Canada Day, the day we celebrate the birthday of this incredible nation. I believe we are turning 151 this year.

In Canada, we have lots to celebrate, like butter tarts, a canadian creation!

Found these jewels in Wellington where we enjoyed the Canada Day small town charm.

We found ice cream too. 

May not be Canadian born but it is a heat wave out there right now so, Yes, thank you, I will take that banana chocolate cone! 

We have so much to celebrate in Canada. Personally, I have a grand son soon to arrive! So I honoured my daughter with a tea party baby shower.

It was a scorcher out there, (which explains why I'm looking  wilted) so thanks to everyone who showed up and sweated it out. 

We had a proper tea

With those little fussy sandwiches and nibbles

And lots of treats

Including scones with clotted cream and jam

I'm so thankful my Grandson can call Canada his home and native land! Happy Birthday Canada! Celebrate all your blessings, Canadian style!

THE RED JEWEL OF JUNE

Strawberries. The Red Jewel of June.

I head to the local berry patch and start the hunt for these ruby red beauties. Juicy and sweet and hidden beneath leaves of green I pluck them off with a satisfying snap and drop them in my baskets until I've harvested enough and the baskets brim red and promising.

This year's hunt was completed on a grey and wet June morning. But still, it's worth it.

My girlfriend Denise often comes with me and she picks for many of her elderly friends and neighbours. Me, I pick for the upcoming strawberry socials - one at church and one for the office. 

At home I spend time washing and cleaning and cutting them up. Their sweet scent fills the air as I wash my hands in the strawberry water. 

And there's lots to share so I try my hand at a new recipe, Strawberry soufflés! 

I'm anxious as they are in the oven, hoping they are rising but afraid to peek. Finally, when the time is done I open up the oven and there they are pink fluffy and popping out of their individual ramekins. Drizzled with chocolate or maybe topped with a soft rich cheese, these are a light and special treat.

Next weekend I'm hosting a baby shower for my daughter and I have a busy week ahead with baking and prep. But since I have the time and some rhubarb cut and ready, I make a strawberry rhubarb compote to go with the homemade scones and clotted cream she has specifically requested.

Strawberry season will soon be over. It is only a short few weeks when they are fresh and plentiful in Ontario and I try every year to take advantage of this treasure growing in our local fields, the Red Jewel of June. 

IT'S WHAT DAD'S DO

This pic always makes me snigger. We were at Pioneer Creek Village (I think) and someone decided (probably me), that we should get one of those old time photos taken.

It was a very hot day as we waited in line for our turn. Finally we started trying on way too many outfits which, as you can clearly see from the picture, soon lost it's lustre. I could not find something that would fit so we made do and Sheldon clasped the back of my skirt to keep it from falling off of me. 

What a happy bunch! Little Adrian was ready to bolt and Randi....those hands! 

Sheldon went along with this escapade. Cause it's what Dad's do. 

You Dads are just trying to keep the family safe, and fed and happy. You work to pay the bills and do your best. You make mistakes just like the rest of us but you carry on. You love your family.

Here is my Dad surrounded by a peck of hens. No wonder he's got a cigarette on hand! Four years later, thankfully, he finally got a bouncing baby boy. 

Sure, you can stick your grubby, dirty little fingers in my mouth, I don't mind. Cause it's what Dad's do (Sheldon with Adrian).

And let's not forget our Fur babies. They need love too!

Happy Father's Day to all your Dad's out there, trying to make everything right. 

Cause it's what Dad's do.