Will Attempt to Grow Great Grub

My roommate and I have decided to attempt growing our own veggies and herbs on our balcony. I have been thinking about it for awhile, since my dad is an avid gardner. Karen, over at Chookooloonks, recommended Gayla Trail's, You Grow Girl, new book Grow Great Grub on this post, for growing your own food in a small space. Today as I was walking through Chapters, after surviving a torrential downpour of rain on the way from the car door to the store door, I happened across her book. I was wandering around hoping the rain would stop enough for me to head back to the car and there it was, calling out to me, as a featured book in the aisle. I kinda got a little bit more than a little bit excited! Even though I don't personally know Karen or Gayla, it was almost like seeing a friend's book for the first time. I imagine I will be even more excited when I get Karen's book when it comes out, as I have been following her blog throughout her whole writing/taking pictures process.

So back to the gardening. In the next couple of weeks I have to figure out what I can plant, what kind of planters/soil I need, and then go buy it all. Ultimately I know I will save money/learn something new in the process, but it all seems like so much work right now. First to read this book. I'm excited. Oh and the photos alone are worth the buy!

I am Not a Mom

But some days I feel like it.

To pay the bills I am a in home support worker at a group home for youth with autism. It is, as everyone asks me, a "rewarding yet tough" job. Yesterday I threw a birthday party. There were only 11 of us there, but it felt like there were 20+. Trying to get the birthday girl to sit still and stay out of the kitchen was difficult enough, but to also have to keep an eye on the other 2 youth, because I had no idea where the other workers were at times, was just plain annoying. It went well enough. We filled the kids with more sugar than they have had in the last month and surprisingly there were no fights, well two narrowly avoided.

Getting the girls ready for bed last night took far too long for my liking, and when it finally came time for me to crawl into bed I was far too excited! I slept amazingly...until the wind storm and rain woke up one of the girls who ended up staying awake for 4HOURS!!!! because she was scared. Let's just say waking up at 630am this morning was a little difficult. The kids are all at school, and I am so ready for a nap.

I am not a mom, but some days I sure feel like it.

Flashback Friday Easter

What was Easter like when you were little? For example, did you receive a basket with toys and candy? Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day? Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) Does any Easter stand out particularly? You might also share how your Easter today is similar or different to your childhood.

Easter growing up was always very exciting! I should clarify that a little. Easter morning was not exciting. My parents would get us up very very early for the Sunrise Service. Sunrise service starts at 6 or 630 am. We would bundle up in our snow gear, drive out to the Peterson's field, crawl through the fence and join everyone else on the hill. People from all the different churches would gather together and sing and one of the pastors would have a short service. When it was done everyone would head to the hospital (it's a small town and the hospital is funded partially by one of the churches) for freshly made hot cross buns and coffee.

My family would head home and have a huge breakfast, followed by a scavenger hunt. Some years we wouldn't go to the Sunrise service and the day would start with the scavenger hunt followed by breakfast.

My mom and dad always out did themselves year after year. They would have these amazing clues that would have my brother and I running all over the property. Clues would lead us to the BBQ, the piano, out to the horse barn, even down to the garden! If you knew how far that was to run first thing in the morning you would sympathize with me! The one clue that I remember the most was about "tickling the ivories." We were too young at that point to know what that meant so we had to ask mom and dad for help. And that is when I first learned that expression. The last clue would be to where she had hidden our easter baskets filled with a special egg and toys. We had the same baskets through my entire childhood. We would have to hang them up on our doors before going to bed so the "easter bunny" could take it and fill it and then hide it.

Some years my birthday falls on Easter. These years mom would make a giant scavenger hunt with the final prize being the goodie bags. There were always lots and lots of chocolate around those years! More than usual! A couple of years ago, while I was at university, I specifically asked my mom not to send me any chocolate for my birthday as it was falling on easter. A few days before my birthday a big box arrives. I waited until my birthday morning to open it, as to my mom's instructions. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but not what I found. The box was absolutely stuffed with chocolate! Lots and lots and lot and lots of chocolate! It took me, and my best friend and her husband, months to eat all of it!

This year Easter will be very different as I will be spending it at work with my "kids." So I will be doing the hiding of the Easter Eggs this year. And trying to keep 2 kids from eating too much chocolate. :)

I have heard that in Christianity Easter is what it's all about. Some say Christmas is the big celebration, but without Easter there would be no point in His birth. So to all of you who pass by and read this, I hope you have a very Happy Easter!

Random Dozen on the Road

The theme is Spring . . . and any other random questions that crept in.

1. What is your favorite sign of Spring?

The smell of a freshly mown lawn!!

2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14? If not, how did it impact your day?

I did remember. Although I really wouldn't have noticed much either way as my phone is my alarm clock and the time changed on it automatically.

3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?

Squash! Butternut and spaghetti! mmm.. and carrots and peas! and yams!

4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?
Pineapple!

5. What is your least favorite insect?

Mosquitos. Not only are their bites incredibly itchy, but they are so annoying! The constant buzzing and always in my face/ears! So not cool!

6. March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?

I do, but only if I forget my water bottle (which I fill with tap water). I will buy whatever is the cheapest or whatever is in the size that I want.

7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?

We drank and brushed our teeth with bottled water.

8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

It really depends on the day. In the summer when I have my water bottle with my all the time, I will drink a couple litres a day. But lately I have been really bad, and my skin is definitely showing it.

9. March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini. Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.

I have watched a few magic shows that are on the side of the street, in parks, etc. I saw one while I was on the cruise last fall. None of which I would say were "professional" in any sense other than that they were getting paid.

10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)?

No

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies? If so, what is your favorite?

I grew up watching Westerns with my dad every Sunday afternoon when we got home from church, before Road to Avonlea and Disney. I have never really been a fan of gangster movies.

12. (Really random) What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?

I have only been to 4 US states: Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and Florida. I would like to go to Oregon, California and New York. Also, Texas.

And that concludes another episode of Random Dozen! Thanks for stopping by!

Say That You'll Come

I was betrayed tonight. It hurt more than I could have imagined. My heart just isn't quite as ready to let go as my head is.

My client and I were on our way to her gymnastics class, and I drove past "the house." I ended up tearing up and getting all heart achey.

What is "the house?" A few weeks before my ex and I broke up we drove past this amazing old farm house. It's yellow and has a wrap around porch and although is a major fixer-upper is pretty much the house I have dreamt about since I was a little girl. Anyway, we started joking about "one day" stuff like how the house would be great with all the land, and a dog, and a couple of kids...etc... Now this is pretty awkward stuff considering we really hadn't been together long, but it just felt natural. We even ended up, very awkwardly at this point, arguing over which is a cuter name for a little girl, Madison or Madelyn, which would be shortened to Maddy. Anyway, long story short, I had, after a 2 year friendship/crush and a few months dating, fallen hard. When it ended I was pretty hurt. But in the last month I have done a pretty good job of convincing my head that it was all for the best. All of it. The friendship, the relationship and the break up. I learned a lot both about myself and what I am ultimately looking for.

This video/song is my amazing friend Jen Miller. She wrote this song today. I'm kinda loving it.

Oh and on a cute sidenote: My client has autism, and generally doesn't notice other people's emotions. When we were at the park, I was getting a little misty eyed, she looked at me and said "[Renee] sad" and then promptly ran to the playground. It put a little smile on my face for the rest of the evening.

100 Truths

A friend of mine did this and since I was bored I decided to do it as well. It originally said that when you are finished tag n amount of people. If you decide you would like to do it too go ahead! Add a comment with a link back to your answers!

Skip any questions you don't feel comfortable answering.

1. Last beverage→ [cheap] Champagne with green tea chai apple juice

2. Last phone call→ received from my friend Stephen. trying to get together...eventually.

3. Last text message→ Shaun

4. Last song you listened to→ Something on Jen's computer ??

5. Last time you cried→ not including crying from onions or wind? probably a couple of weeks ago. wow that's actually kind of surprising!

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. Dated someone twice → yes

7. Been cheated on? → yes

8. Kissed someone & regretted it? yes

9. Lost someone special?→ Yes

10. Been depressed?→ Yes

11. Been drunk and threw up? → unfortunately yes

LIST FOUR FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Green

13. Blue

14. Yellow

15. Orange

HAVE YOU:

16. Made new friends → Yes

17. Fallen out of love → Yes

18. Laughed until you cried → Yes

19. Met someone who changed you → Yes

20. Found out who your true friends were → Yes

21. Found out someone was talking about you → Yes

22. Kissed anyone on your friends list→ Yes

23. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life → All but one...but that will change eventually.

24. How many kids do you want to have→ 2. 3 if I have twins.

25. Do you have any pets? → Sort of. I have a cat, Zacch, who lives in foster care in Kamloops with a really nice family :)

26. Do you want to change your name→ My last name, eventually.

27. What did you do for your last birthday→ I had dinner with a friend. No big parties.

28. What time did you wake up today → 9:25!!! I got to sleep in! It was amazing! I didn't get out of bed til 10:30 though!

29. What were you doing at midnight last night → sleeping

30. Name something you CANNOT wait for → Right now...returning/finishing school. Having a real job/career. Meeting MR Right-for-me and getting married! oh and a baby. I want a baby. They are just so cute! haha

31. Last time you saw your father→ March 2. I went home for a week :)

32. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life→ Too many to list.

33.What are you listening to right now? → No music, but Cake Boss is on TV

34. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom→ I have talked to a Thomas. Does that count? I've also been in the presence of Tom Welling, although I never spoke to him. He did brush up against me while passing though...

35. What's getting on your nerves right now? → My contacts are drying out...

36. Most visited webpage → Facebook

37. What's your name→ Robyn Renee

38. Nicknames→ Bob, SweetPea, Rob, Bobyn, husband.

39. Relationship Status → Single

40. Zodiac sign → Aries

41. Male or female or transgendered → female

42. Elementary→ NOYB

43. Middle School → NOYB

44. High school→ NOYB

45. Hair color → dark brown

46. Long or short → medium. It's shoulder length

47. Height → 5' 8"

48. Do you have a crush on someone? → Why yes I do! :)

49: What do you like about yourself? → My eyes. And my ability to withstand a lot.

50. Piercings → 2 in my left ear, 3 in my right, navel, and I used to have my nose pierce, but not anymore...one day again.

51. Tattoos → Right foot. The words "Spoken For" in a fancy script, and another in the planning stages.

52. Righty or lefty → Righty, although any sports that involve my feet I am "lefty"

FIRSTS :

53. First surgery → I was 2 I think? I had tubes put in my ears.

54. First piercing → Ears. I was 7

55. First best friends → Tara and Tracey. My oldest and lifelong friends!

56. First sport you joined → Figure Skating

57. First pet→ We had a dog and a cat.

58. First vacation→ Other than camping and such...Hawaii for my 13th birthday

59. First concert → Relient K, in Terrace, back before anybody really knew who they were.

60. First crush → Isaac. closely followed by Brent

RIGHT NOW:

61. Eating → nothing...although now I really want a cinnamon bun from my trip to Ikea earlier today.

62. Drinking → nothing.

63. I'm about to → go to sleep

64. Listening to → still nothing.

65. Waiting for → this to be done so I can go to bed...

YOUR FUTURE :

66. Want kids? → definitely yes!

67. Want to get married? → definitely yes!

68. Careers in mind→ Special Ed teacher, Highschool English/Drama teacher and eventually maybe Stay-at-home-mom? or at least for a little while.

IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?

69. Lips or eyes → eyes

70. Hugs or kisses → Kisses are great, but I love a good hug!

71. Shorter or taller → Taller.

72. Older or Younger → I guess it doesn't matter as long as they're somewhere close to being on the same page as me.

73. Romantic or spontaneous → Both!

74. Nice stomach or nice arms → If I can only choose one...stomach

75. Sensitive or loud → There's a right time and place for both of those.

76. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship.

77. Trouble maker or hesitant → Hesitant. I'm tired of bad boys.

HAVE YOU EVER :

78. Kissed a stranger → ahhh....kinda? I kinda knew him :)

79. Drank hard liquor → yes

80. Lost glasses/contacts → haha yeah! I lost a pair of glasses somewhere in Banff.

81. Sex on first date → Nope

82. Broken someone's heart → yep. it sucks.

83. Had your own heartbroken → Too many times!

84. Been arrested → Not yet... :)

86. Turned someone down →yes

87. Cried when someone died → Yes

88. Liked a friend that is a girl? → like LIKE like? I have thought girls were attractive, but not in a "I like you" kind of way.


DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

89. Yourself → Most of the time

90. Miracles → yes.

91. Love at first sight → Attraction at first site yes, love at first sight no.

92. Heaven → 100% yes.

93. Santa Clause → no

95. Kiss on the first date? → no. not anymore. You have to work for it boys! This girl's heart is guarded!

96. Angels → yes

97. Ghosts → it's hard to say. yes and no.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

98. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → yes

99. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? → yes. I was young and stupid.

100. Posting this as 100 Truths? → Yes

Well, now apparently you know all about me. :P If you actually read through this all congrats! No get out of here! and don't forget to comment if you decide to be crazy and do this too!

Flashback Friday! #2

When was your first date? You can choose either your first date ever or your first date with your spouse - or both! How old were you?

I was 15. He was home from university for Christmas break. I had to ask my parents if I could go, because I was not yet 16.

What did you do/where did you go?

We went for lunch.

Did anything memorable - either good or embarrassing?

I remember the incredible butterflies that were going through my tummy leading up to and during when he met me and gave me a hug :) That day a local company was having a lunch meeting and one of the ladies was getting out of her car, saw us, whistled and said "get a room!" I was pretty embarrassed!

If it was your first date ever, did you continue to date that person? If so, how long?

No we never went on another date. Our fathers work together, and although I don't know what he said, my father said something to his father that scared him away. I did end up going on a few dates with his best friend years later though.

If you are sharing the story of the first date with the person you married, did you know then that he/she was "the one" or did it take a longer for love to bloom?

Any other memories you wish to share about those wonderfully awkward first dates?!

Most of my relationships have begun after being friends first, so generally the first actual date is kinda awkward as we move from friends to more.