Noble Moments: July 2020

Boring Birthday Sunday

Since we are still out to prove to Whittaker that Sundays are NOT boring. We planned another picnic. It also served as a lovely restful outing while Caleb was visiting. The day before his birthday we called it a birthday outing. It has been nice to get out and relax since our weeks have been extremely packed with WORK. The construction is moving along but it's taking every spare minute. We have also not really explored this place we live much and we know that millions visit here yearly so there must be great appeal. And there are plenty of visitors even now in the summer of Covid.

It was noon and the weather was beautiful. We had made our BLT's, and had grapes and watermelon. We didn't intend to do anymore than find a quiet secluded spot near the lake to enjoy our picnic. I grabbed a big blanket in case we found a less than amenable seating area.

Duncan drove us to the lake area and we began looking for a suitable location to park and have our picnic. We drove... and drove.. We saw lots of delightful locations near the lake, some with picnic tables even.. but they were all in use. Some were even crowded. We kept driving. We came across the camping loops by the lake. Each campsite had picnic tables so we thought we'd look for one with a view of the lake that was empty. Easier planned than executed. We had to explore three different campsite loops before we found our spot. We had a lake glimpse from a higher vantage than we intended but it worked.

We picnicked and then cleaned up. The boys began a bit of exploring and soon we heard delighted cries of 'there's a trail'.

We began to follow their voices and noticed that there was a private little beach way down below. We wondered aloud how a person could enjoy such a delightful secluded beach.

Then we saw...

Just keep following the path that zigzagged all the way down the steep slope and then..

SPLASH!

At first I wondered if someone had fallen in.

Not knowing the depth of the water, if there had been a steeper section of slope and they'd slid or who was in the water, I began to hurry along the trail. I hadn't fully decided if I was going to hike with them or not but after the splashing noises I needed to know that all was well. Passing the large bush I discovered that it wasn't just one splash. The water wasn't deep near the shore and the large rock just beckoned to be jumped off of.

Next I began to think of four wet boys having to hike back up and travel the 45 minutes home again. Swimming hadn't been part of our intentions. Then I discovered their cleverness. Jim was still wearing his p.j. pants under his jeans, so he swam in p.j.'s and the boys proclaimed boxer briefs as acceptable swimming attire.

Once down we didn't relish the idea of climbing back up so I sat in the shade and enjoyed watching the silliness and impromptu beach time unfold.

The log poking out of the water that looked like an alligator.

The rocks stacked up like the beginnings of a stone 'snowman'.

Pat and Caleb having fun rock skipping.. and some plain rock splashing tosses.

A frog joined us and the little boys played with him quite a while even after I reminded Emerson that he'd just managed to be rid of his wart. They all reminded me that he didn't get a wart from holding a frog. Some canoers paddled by and we watched them. Some swimming and then time to dress in the willow bush changing rooms. Emerson didn't get the memo about wearing your pants and carrying the wet underwear, but he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders and started looking for the frog again.

There were a few 'lovely' rocks found also.

I adamantly insisted that the frogs stayed! Also, any rocks had to be carried so I strongly discouraged it. Fortunately Daddy kindly carried the large wishing rock, complete with 5 white rings around it!, up the steep trail back to the car.

Whittaker asked what are we doing next week?? Can we bring the kayak's back here?? Oh dear. This week's picnic turned into much more.

We stopped four times on the way home.

First, to take a photo of the enormous dandelion puffs. (Grandma once asked for photos of everyone blowing them... not sure the significance.
Second, (no photo) to investigate a new picnic spot for another time... This one only 5 minutes from our house, secluded, grassy and delightful!
Third, to photograph the large 'barrel thistle' that Jim has been raving about for the last few weeks. When Patrick told him they were edible they sampled it. He's encouraging a rhubarb, strawberry thistle pie....
Fourth, to enjoy the lovely baby antelope on the road.

Just another Boring Sunday

Way back in February, which seems like years ago, we heard of a buffalo farm near our house. We had already found the one near the Post Office, but this was the other direction and... it had 'WHITE BUFFALO'. I didn't even know there was such a thing. I realize that in Utah we had been part of the Boy Scouts White Buffalo district, but I thought that was just a name or a distinction such as the green, the yellow, the red buffalo districts.. frankly I'd never questioned it nor thought much about it. Until NOW.

We lived within a 30 minute drive of white buffalo. A definite field trip. Winter makes exploring complicated so we took down the directions and waited for spring. But Covid came before spring and we stopped thinking of outings. Our friends called us one morning and asked if we wanted to join them. They had been in on the conversation about the white buffalo and had decided they needed an excursion also. So... we said yes. We could social distance in our own heated cars as we drove to the buffalo.

We knew we were close when we saw these guys. Then we discussed the idea that perhaps they weren't white in the winter, but that would be the opposite of the arctic fox and rabbit. Plus, they wouldn't be called the white buffalo if they were only part time white buffalo.

We continued along. Chatting with our friends on the cell phones. It was fun to get out and explore with friends, (sort of).

It was another mile or two and then we saw them... How to describe the moment. We just sat and stared. We rolled down the windows and listened. We heard faint grunting, the calling of Canada geese, a few other bird sounds but mostly intense silence. They didn't do much. We gazed for a while longer and then we remembered it was only 20 degrees outside and boys needed a potty. We waved to our friends and we headed for home. But then I told Pat to stop. "I'm tired of having odd photos of animals, we need to be in the photos. So the boys obligingly hopped out and braved the cold for a photo. But you can barely see buffalo in that shot. Oh well.

We returned home... our white car now also a beige colour... Perhaps the buffalo have a similar winter fate.

April, May, June and July... Jim moved in, Covid hunkered in to stay but the snow finally left and the temperatures lifted. Somehow the conversation in July turned to white buffalo. With our recent dilemma of Whittaker finding Sundays, "boring", we decided a Sunday drive to see how white the buffalo are in the summer would help to 'unborify' our next Sunday.

I had a few zoom meetings for stake callings so we scheduled our Sacrament, Zoom meetings, Come Follow Me Study time and meals carefully so we would still have a two hour window for our Sunday Buffalo quest drive.

These brown fellows greeted us first just as they had the previous visit. I think they appreciated that we stopped to enjoy their grandeur. I'm sure it must be frustrating to be overlooked just because they aren't the rare variety. They are still quite an impressive beast. Jim and the boys attempted to gain their attention by making 'buffalo noises', but they preferred to lounge in their grassy field.

Quest completed.

They are indeed whiter now than they were in winter. The white herd is substantially smaller than the brown. We don't understand the brown calves being among them but they were rather tight lipped when it came to answering our questions.

Again the boys attempted to get their attention. After many attempts at strange noises, we're convinced they were looking at us and not just in our direction.

We could hear the delightful sounds of the river, the birds and the light breeze. Once again the boys needed to potty. (What is it about visiting buffalo?) While the boys found an accommodating bush, I turned the car around. They returned with a bouquet of wildflowers.

How's that for unborifying!

Week 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35...

Let's see... so in the last nine weeks, a few things have happened.

Miles stopped emailing.

Because he began calling more. He calls three times a week. He transferred to Carrollton, TX and his new companion was curmudgeonly. He didn't want to eat meals together, to study together, to chat or play games. Not an ideal quarantine partner.

We however play games with him... virtually.

The boys enjoy their chess matches against Miles. The Lego men are so that Miles can say... "move the rook on the purple Lego side forward 4 paces."

Miles coped. He had his Rubik's cube and a ukulele. He also began working on his 'mind palace'. A method of memorization and short-term memory improving techniques. He wowed us on a game night when we played the 'tray game'. He remembered all 50 items in the order they were on the tray and he never wrote anything down. He also remembered all 50 items in order days later!

Miles was needing some new Spanish reading material.. We did our best. Duncan scanned each page and sent them. We've been looking for more grown up Spanish articles and songs so he can keep up his translating.

After only a few weeks, missionaries were transferred and Miles stayed where he was but Elder Birch became his new companion. Elder Birch loved that Miles could cook, and called home and requested old favourite recipes for Miles to make. They also started jogging. Miles, not such a big fan. His shins hurt.

Miles baked a cake, bread, made black bean burgers and chile rellanos.

He's done so much cooking and become known for it and is referred to as the cooking specialist. If any missionary has a cooking question, they call Miles.

Miles also became the District Leader. (DL)

His first task as DL was to create a better name for the companion of the DL. Until now he's been the district monkey. Miles first companionship; he was the district monkey. He was the district monkey a few times. He didn't think it an appropriately descriptive title. He is endeavoring to change the name. The companion will be now be known as, 'CDL' (Companion to the District Leader). The district monkey will now be... just that.. a district monkey.

I crocheted little monkeys and attached a note,

I am the district monkey

-keep me moving around the mission
-move me along each week
-be creative hiding me in another missionary's belongings... but don't get caught
-don't hide me so well that I never am found!!

So far the monkey has been a success.

The weeks before Covid were very similar... so Miles always said... now they are VERY similar. including the days all running into each other.

Added to the isolation because of the Virus, just after becoming district leader, the riots began. He said from their place in North Dallas they often can hear rioting. Each of the missionaries in his district have to check in with him each evening. They're officially on a lock down until tempers cool.

He seems to be busier these days, with some online lessons and other responsibilities in the district.

We haven't heard from him as frequently. In fact not Thursday, Friday or Monday... But Tuesday he called. Apparently one set of missionaries came across some fishing poles and since they may now go out as missionaries together during the daytime.. they went fishing. That explained one of his days not calling... another was that they had appointments and lessons. And another was that he forgot to charge his phone.

Phase 1

Summer of Construction

We have tackled many large renovation and construction projects in the past, but this seems to be the biggest. There are many phases.

Also many sub-phases, of decisions and ordering supplies and demo of old parts of house, and moving things from one room to another and back again and living among chaos.

Phase one: Build new room off of living room to the enclosed stage. (projected completion July 17)

Phase two: Build new combination bathroom/laundry and dining area to the enclosed stage. (projected completion Aug. 3rd )

Phase three: Build new pantry and kitchen space to the enclosed stage. (projected completion Aug. 31st)

Phase four: New Roof (projected completion Sept. 7)

Phase five: Interior drywall (projected completion Sept 14)

Phase six: Arrange cabinetry in kitchen and install counters (projected completion Sept 21)

Phase seven: Flooring throughout house (projected completion Oct. 10)

Phase eight: Complete interior of kitchen/pantry (projected completion Oct 17)

Phase nine: Complete interior of bathroom/laundry (projected completion Nov. 2nd)

Phase ten: Complete new room off of living room (projected completion Nov. 14)

Obviously I HOPE that the projected completion dates are sooner not later and I'm able to do much of the simultaneous tasks to speed up the process. Ideally would be to complete all construction by Sept 7... but .... the workers require breaks and sleep and have other full time jobs and insist on being fed. If all goes well and Patrick takes a week off in August we should be able to shorten the projected dates quite a bit, but we'll wait and see.

Phase 1-4 must be completed before winter, along with building more cold frames, and cutting and stacking next winters firewood, as well as my projects of staining the barn, painting the exterior of the house, gardening and planting trees.

During Phases 5-10 I will need to stain the kitchen cabinets and paint all the new interior spaces

Next year.. build crannies and rebuild porch and back deck with back door. Plant more trees. Possibly relax a little. (and any other grand ideas I come up with over the winter)

So we're finishing up Phase one... here's out it's going so far:

Home Depot deliveries are... shake your head in bewilderment eventful.

They backed their own forklift into their flat bed truck... more than a few times. They almost drove over the lumber pile they had just placed on the ground. They drove over our pallet boardwalk and smashed one of the trampoline stakes. ... Oh.. and they forgot half the order so they came back later in the day.

They'll be back again in a week. We'll move the cars and put the chickens away before they come!

Progress is slow... for the observer. The crew claims that they feel like each day is productive.. but I can't paint yet or move things in... and there's a lot of noise.

The roof has really slowed things down.. There was excitement as concrete was poured and floors were built and then walls were put up.... and the roof... dismantling the old roof... repairing parts of the roof... .reconstructing the new pitch of the roof... laying the new roof and creating overhangs and gables...

Meanwhile the walls feel neglected and the causal observer sees nothing... because we refuse to go up on the roof.

Our local OSHA inspector is ruthless with his constant pacing the site with his clipboard and incessant questions. (granted they more often than not have to do with lunch orders and evening game or movie preferences... he's always hopeful they'll finish early... but they work until the sun goes down)

Well..

Mostly they work.

We do have a resident comic relief expert.

We are surrounded by construction.. supplies... noise.. and mess.

But it's happening.

We are learning as we go...

After haircuts is not a good time to wear a baseball cap while on the roof all day in the sun... His farmer tan lines are quite impressive.

The roof delivery guy is a great driver and crane operator and was a delight to do business with. He also had a really neat truck with an according folding top and a crane attachment.

Phase 1 is complete. The interior will not take too long and will be done here and there... higgeldy, piggeldy alongside Phase 2 etc...

Phase 2 is already behind schedule... the last delivery forgot crucial items and we are still waiting for them. We are both busy with other tasks and twiddling our thumbs in anticipation of staying on schedule.

Odds and ends...

Some days fly by with routine and the mundane... others seem to have extra time. Some of the ways we have filled our 'extra time' lately have been,

Learning Chinese Skipping

Good indoor exercise. We mastered some of the jumps and then added others.. I forgot how much remembering the order of the jumps and mastering them mattered. Emerson definitely enjoyed the jumping but needs to learn to land more gently.. After a while it sounded like there were elephants skipping in the house.

The 'die hards', practiced with chair legs while the cat looked on.

Hair cuts aren't uncommon, although you never know how it will turn out with me behind the scissors/clippers. Just for fun, Emerson sported a Mohawk for 24 hours. I couldn't take it longer than that and finished his haircut.

A neighbour hired Duncan for two weeks to build this shed and stack some firewood.

We began bike riding. Jim and I were exhausted after the first few rides, but we've built up some stamina and have agreed to more than one ride per week! We waved to Duncan as we rode past him working on the neighbour's shed. Once his work was completed he joined us on future rides... Well... he led us on rides... and foolishly, we followed... on long rides... with hills and very bumpy terrain.

Emerson has adventures as antelope dart out in front of him and another time, in order to avoid a car coming around the corner he swerved, hit a pot hole and ended up in a swampy marsh along the side of the road... but he stayed on the bike.

Art days continue

Ava took the lead for this class and we painted silhouettes.. of cats of course!

Sarah ran a zentangle relaxation art day.

Mask making

The Noble mask factory opened and ran for a few weeks. It closed after I broke my sewing machine needle and had to wait a few weeks for replacements to be ordered and delivered.

Once the snow finally melted, kite flying began. Sometimes a few times a day if the wind was favourable.

Game nights

Online game nights have become a staple activity each week... We've tried a few different games, pictionary, disney trivia, bingo, scattergories, family feud... but by far Balderdash has been the hit of the crew. Pre game activities are more relaxed.. tray memory games, scavenger hunts, hide and seek, story time with the little boys.

Discovering how to use virtual backgrounds and hilarious facial mask options in zoom has been a hoot. Delightful ways to connect and get to know cousins better during isolating times..

Porch swings

Patrick rebuilt the porch swings since they had weathered poorly and the seat area was worn out. They are sturdy now... but not comfortable on the backside... so I was on the watch for some cushions.

These were just waiting for me at the local thrift store. Ideal!

Seating on the porch has led us to listen to the birds more.. and watch the antelopes.. and be delighted that we could hear frogs and the stream in the distance.

Hearing the frogs led to some exploring and some toading time. Poor Emerson, within a week or two of catching his frog he had a wart on his finger. No convincing him that toads don't give warts!

The boys online school began to offer a one hour each day live class. They called it Power Hour. It began with ten minutes of exercises, then a 40 minute class followed by a story time and then a 'kahoot' quiz from the class. The boys were so excited to have a live class like the older kids, but their power hour was more fun and soon we were all engrossed. Each day was a different subject. They loved their science day with Dr. Pablo learning about anatomy. They read, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' for Literature and were eager to watch the movies.

They had assignments to submit... These were both from Literature. They had to memorize the bones in the human body for science and make a food from another country for Geography. They are sad that summer break meant that power hour ended. It will begin again in the fall. We've ordered their new workbooks and excitement is high.

Hot Diggity Birthday

A much anticipated birthday. We discussed the menu for weeks. His birthday present was ordered and tucked away almost a month before.

He kept us apprised of the countdown for two full weeks.

He woke early and eager to begin the excitement.... Just as it happened eight years earlier.. Sarah was there to greet him! We were surprised by a birthday visit from Sarah and Boomer! She arrived in the middle of the night and was eager to come in out of the cold when we awoke.

They went on an early morning walk, which resulted in Boomer discovering some muddy marshy areas and requiring a bath when the returned.

We then enjoyed Hot Cocoa and croissants.

It was followed by games and he opened his gift from Whittaker.

Whittaker had an idea and worked out in the shed in secrecy for two weeks getting the action figure activity house built. It was a hit.

Birthday Biking

Obviously a birthday is a great day for a bike ride... most days are, but especially birthdays.

You might think that a bike ride every few days would get old... but we've managed to try a new route almost each time. We also discover new things each time... such as... a house made out of straw... a teepee house... a few cute tiny houses... some signs that tell us to slow down and enjoy our time... others that say enjoy the retreat... another says, 'this is where love is'. We discovered Mary Kay's pink vacation house and some 'golden arches'... no drive through though.... no building either.. just the golden arches in the middle of a field. We also found tangible goodies, some lupine to transplant, a tall stack of old tires just begging to be used for something... a decoy owl which we were joking we should stop and ask if it was any good at keeping the gophers away... we found two stacks of lumber just waiting to be turned into some fun project... we found some baby goats and plenty of dogs. we found a few hills and a bridge over the canal, and a lot of good rocks to be gathered..

Now we joke that we have a full day of errands to send Patrick on with the truck to gather all of our finds.... I still want him to retrieve the lovely doors in the old abandoned stone house..

Lunch was Fried egg sandwiches with Root Beer floats! Sarah had a gift of colour changing cups that were instantly put to use with our floats.

After we ate we played Jenga and apples to apples. Then Jim and Sarah took a snooze while we went out on the porch to hammer nails as quietly as we could.

It was our Thursday art, String Art Project

Once the hammering was completed, we went inside to wrap the string on our creations. Such a variety of art.

Supper had been long anticipated.. He wanted hot dogs and tater tots. I baked hot dog buns, and Sarah had some fun cream cheese stuffed bagel bites.

Jim presented Emerson with a delightful birthday party hat. It was fashioned from a punctured wheel barrow tire tube taped to a record; decorated with colourful streamers.

He then opened his gift from Mummy and Daddy and was surprised to find a train track turn table and round house. After dessert (a fruit pizza with a brownie crust, cream cheese icing sauce and plenty of fruit {DELICIOUS}) and another game of Jenga, with Daddy and Jim this time, he headed off to create a train track throughout the entire living room.

We enjoyed the day until we couldn't go another minute. Even bedtime was a party.

Boring Sundays

Recently Whittaker let us know that Sundays were boring. Oddly enough we thought they were relaxing. One day that no construction was occurring. We sometimes played a game or sat on the porch to listen to frogs or birds. However as the weather became nicer we decided to include Daddy in our bike rides one Sunday afternoon. Not a long ride, but fun and hot. After that we knew we needed to go earlier.. it was just getting too warm for biking in the afternoons. So the following Sunday we attached the basket to my bike and opted to pack water bottles and snacks and enjoy a family ride to a new view spot we'd discovered earlier in the week.

This had the steepest hills we've attempted to date. But some great fun going back down! We stopped along the way to see a lizard Duncan spotted. The view of the valley was vast and our odd assortment of snacks was satisfying.

But once home and our regular Sunday activities filled our afternoon, we began to hear how boring Sundays were. Good time memories don't last long.

Ringing in July

While everyone slept on the eve of July 1st, I quietly pulled out the red table cloth and the Canada box. Hung the enormous flag where it could NOT be missed and went to bed, ready to welcome the next day!

We awoke to the majestic strains of Oh Canada and enjoyed breakfast with the table centerpieces of Canadian geese. We enjoyed a day of Canadaopoly, and putting together our Canada puzzle and our Victoria's inner harbour puzzle.

I attempted to crochet a maple leaf to make a table runner... but I made it 3 times and pulled it out 3 times. Just could not manage to have it lay flat.

We completed the day with a delightful and well anticipated day of Poutine.

Just as I was getting ready for bed I noticed that my much anticipated lily had bloomed. It was beautiful!

Similarly on the 4th... we woke and played the national anthem and then since it was a Saturday, worked all day on house projects and had a delicious dinner of T-bone steaks, watermelon and corn on the cob.

The boys put together a map of the USA puzzle and we ended the evening watching the original first Star Wars movie, A New Hope.

I umm... well.. uh... I forgot to take any photos... you'll just have to take my word for it that I flew the flag on that barn and had table decorations.

But to make up for it... just before we crawled into bed, Channa sent us some 4th of July photos of Kenzie.

She fell while skateboarding... no helmet. Her mummy Uva is most concerned for that noggin and grateful that more damage wasn't done!

Oh.. and there was a lovely moon rising that night!

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