Thanksgiving and groaning

Not that I actually have anything to groan about (ok maybe the perpetually whiny and possibly still sick little boy who is on antibiotics and has been waking up in the 4am-ish zone the past few days). The real groaning is the pressure on the waistband of my jeans after a weekend full of overeating. Today? Lunch was lemon meringue pie with blueberry pie for dessert! YUM!! 

We had a lovely weekend with family and friends, including a marathon hike of the Millbrook Valley Trails on Saturday. I had Henry strapped to my back in a carrier and like to think that the exertion of walking 1.5 hours like that helped to burn off my solid and liquid excesses of Friday night. 

More frosty mornings, and a furnace that's coming on quite regularly, and the days getting very shorter all mean that Fall's in the air!  These chimps don't seem to mind it one bit:

This was the best smile she could muster, being saucy and all.

What a chimp

Grinning goofball

Millbrook is looking beautiful, as usual.  The Fall foliage is in full effect, and the geese have taken over the millpond.  I know they are a pain in the arse, but, I have to say I love this time of year where they land by the hundreds and the air is full of happy honking. 

All's looking good on Millbrook pond

Yesterday was the Higginson/Lee Thanksgiving dinner at Granny Barbara's cottage on Missisauga Lake.  It was as crazy and chaotic as usual with 19 (nineteen!) of us crammed into a tiny one room cabin.  Some of the guests didn't take up too much room, like beautiful baby Owen, celebrating is first Thanksgiving:

A living yam:  Sir Owen, the chubby cheeked

I have to say, I think that King Henry got his knickers in a knot as he was quite fine with being the only baby on the scene.  Too bad sucker, you're getting to be a big grown-up boy now!!

Henrew!

And back to reality this morning.  A quiet day here, filled with leftovers, snuggles on the couch, and about 400 books out of the bookcase (so far).  Also, lots of time for peeking out the window to admire the fall leaves:

Looking at leaves n' geese

An amazing range of colours on our Maple out front

So, Thanksgiving is over.... what could possibly be next?  Oh yes!  Only 11 days until these fabulous lovebirds tie the knot (or Tighe the knot, if you prefer!).  Can't wait!!!

Soon to be Mister and Missus Bo-Tighe

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. I hope the many things you were thankful for this weekend keep bringing you joy and happiness for the year ahead.  Like pie.  Or crazy kids.  Or a happy, noisy, chaotic household.  Bliss. 

It was a bright and sunny day...

Sidewalk chalk, watering plants and splashing in buckets, and pretending that it's summer.
Millbrook is looking beautiful today!

Foggy, foggy morn

It has been so foggy the past few mornings. Perfect setting for an Alfred Hitchcockesque horror film, but thankfully no such drama playing out in sleepy Millbrook. 

 Here's the Mill yesterday, looking suitably eerie:

The forecast for today is 21 degrees. That's downright chilly since earlier in the week they were projecting it would be around 26. 

 What a strange weather world we live in. We might need to rename the seasons if this keeps up. Sprummer? Summring? This was highlighted yesterday as I drove in to Peterborough with the snowtires on the car and the air conditioning running. 

Now, enough pondering this odd weather - tis time to go outside and enjoy it!

March round-up

Are you sure it's March? The temperature is going up to 23 today and they're forecasting 27 tomorrow. Remember winter? It's long gone and considering there are mosquitoes flying around biting, I expect it's probably safe to put away the snowsuits and boots.

Remember Winter?  Sam and Ev and a dwindling snowman

Things have been busy around the house. Evy had been going to daycare a few days a week and we're cutting that back now that my EI maternity benefits are over and I'm officially unemployed. (Though anyone who suggests that staying home with 2 kids isn't 'working' will get a sharp jab to the larynx). Henry is almost walking and the kids are playing together more and more. Usually it involves Evy commanding Henry to do things, stealing his toys, and generally being the boss and bully that firstborns are. (Ahem, Lee.)

Evy and her manservant

And, it's official. Both kids are wearing a size 2, at least in some clothes. The other day they were both wearing the same size of shirt. It was only a matter of time, considering how much food this little man consumes. To say that I need to sweep after his meals is an understatement. The more effecting cleaning method would be to lift the house off its foundations, take the roof off, and drive through a car wash. Vile. Filth. 

Mister mucky face, orange due to lasagna, not fake tanning.

With this crazy weather, we've been spending a lot of time outside.  We're lucky to live next to a series of really wonderful trails that include bridges, boardwalks, and lots of tree-huggy beauty.  Evy is a star rambler and will walk for 3km without complaint.  (Not always the best plan since she then burns 10 times the amount of calories she usually consumes in a day). 

Here we are a couple of weeks ago (when there was still a tiny bit of snow left) for a hike on a sunny day. 

The lovely Baxter's Creek

Mademoiselle taking in the scenery

Bright berries

Little legs on a long walk

And, Spring is definitely in the air for our furred and feathered critters.  We have a pair of chipmunks that are chasing each other all over and wrestling like Chip and Dale.  Not sure if they are enemies or lovahs', but they sure are scampy.  We also had a pair of Hairy woodpeckers flapping around looking for bugs.  This jaunty fellow put on quite a show of using his mighty beak to shred bark off stumps and trees.  Sorry the picture is awful, vintage wobbly glass in the windows doesn't lend itself to the clearest photos. 

Huge Hairy having his way with a stump

So, that's your March-round up.  Hope everyone else is enjoying this weather - my veggie seeds have started sprouting and I can't wait to get planting.  Happy first day of Spring! 

Millbilly Sunset

A beautiful Millbrook sunset - the perfect end to a weekend. (I'd say it was a perfect end to a perfect weekend except Evy has a fever and cold and is shooting snot streamers out of her nose. Oh yeah, and Henry still isn't sleeping). 

But, it's still a darn beautiful sunset. 

On snowy pond

After a chilly week, ye olde Millbrook pond is ready to go! Rob took the snowblower across the bridge yesterday to clear off the ice and soon after the kiddies were raring to go! 

It's been a year since Evy 'skated' and I wasn't sure how it would go, but she took off on her own and only fell about a dozen times (which actually isn't a big deal when you're well-padded with snowsuit and are only 2 feet off the ground!). 

The sun was shining, the snow was sparkly and Evy had a great time with her buddy Maia. Aren't we so lucky to live in such a beautiful spot? Dreamy! 

Maia and Evy - cuteness on skates

An occasional tumble

Going cross-country

Time for a hug!

Speed skaters!

Traveling in style!

More skating in the works for today - I'm pretty sure Evy will be ready for the Winter Olympics in no time! 

Movin' and shakin'

One of the best things about Millbrook is the number of activities that are fun, free and kid-friendly. We go to a playgroup 2x a week up at the Old School. The Library has story time and crafts each Friday morning too, not to mention all the fun events like Christmas in the Village and the Zucchini Festival. Small towns have their drawbacks (scary yokels who drink at Mo's Tavern and might be on Meth, for one) but the advantages far outweigh the, umm, disadvantaged. 

Added to this plethora of free funitude is a new 'Music and Movement' class. It started last week and is taught by a lovely and talented local woman who is the choreographer for the 4th Line Theater. Suffice it to say, Evy is in LURVE and I'm already rueing (RUUUUUEE!) that the class is only 5 weeks long! I took my camera today and caught some of the action: 

Bongo mania!

Swirly twirly

On the fly

Little butterfly

Can you tell the scarves were her favourite part?

So much fun!

I guess I'd better hurry up and sign this child up for some more dance classes before she runs away to join the Bolshoi Ballet!

Fall fun roundup

Ah, what fun the weekend was. Complete Faux-vember, with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. Evy, Henry and I had an abundance of fun, despite the fact that Rob was off on his annual 'mannymoon' with his boyfriends, Greg and Dennis.

Afternoon sun and an early moon

On Saturday, the neighbours took pity on me and entertained us with a smashing Guy Fawkes bonfire and a delicious supper.

Henry appreciating the bonfire. He tried to eat some foliage.
Ingest that healthy dirt and bacteria, boy!

Evy and her BFF Maia topped the night off with some disco dancing. (Dancing is ALWAYS better in your pyjamas, don't you know?)

Strutting their stuff. Evy is seriously coveting the disco light.
(Ok, maybe I am too).

Then on Sunday the Higgy Clan descended on Millbrook for lunch and some outdoor fun. Here we are up at the Old School.

A motley crew

Evy and Sam playing 'Choo-choo'
One is the engine and one is the caboose,
but I think this train went off the rails!

Aunt Mary (aka Patron Saint of Unruly Children) and the kids

And the grown ups prove they can have fun too
(Lee realizes it's hard to give your man-brother an underdog)

It was a lovely weekend, and a lovelier still because it doesn't feel like November! I know the flurries will fly soon, but I'm happy to stay in denial just a bit longer.

Sunset o'er the pond

Fall into Fall

Although the temperatures this week have been fairly balmy, there's no doubt that fall is on its way. And I for one am cheering for the first frost! (The cheer goes something like this: "Yeah frost, stick it to that pollenh*le ragweed, woot woot!" Ah, life with allergies is sublime).

Whether you are lamenting Winter's arrival or not, you have to admit, Fall is a beautiful time of year. The geese are descending on the pond by the dozen, the leaves are starting to turn, and it's lovely to snuggle under the duvet at night. Unless you're sleeping next to a 6-month old, but I digress.

Proof in point:

The last bloom on the honeysuckle vine

More honeysuckle - the humingbirds love it and you can see why

The house looking lovely in late afternoon sun

Fall mums in the planter

So, we await those first few flakes of snow, and in the meantime will enjoy all the dreaminess of this fine season.