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jennsmidlifecrisis

jennsmidlifecrisis

Tag Archives: sunsets

Dear Quarantine Diary – Week 34

23 Tuesday Aug 2022

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

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Tags

family, food, holiday, humour, summer, sunsets


Dear Diary-This week I watched a short (& hilarious) YouTube video on hummingbirds. The most ridiculous thing was their mating ritual. Males will fly high over the female and perform a series of courtship dives. But as they swoop over the female, special feathers on their tail flutter, creating a unique sound that sounds like…a fart! Romantic “butt” farts? Apparently! But before any guys reading this cheer in celebration, let me be clear on behalf of your mates. It’s only romantic to hummingbirds. We may turn it into a joke or laugh (because when it comes to bathroom jokes and body noises, we are all still 11 inside), but in no way does it make it “randy baby”.

Dear Diary – I was looking forward to it, but once again, my angry ankle made me doubt my ability to withstand the walking tour…in 30C heat. So Eldest Son and my father went to see the WWII former bombing and gunnery school without out me. This base trained approximately 131,553 aircrew, including pilots, wireless operators, air gunners, and navigators for the Air Forces of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It was decommissioned in 1969 and essentially abandoned for years. But it’s in the process of being restored, it’s stories being shared, and I think it’s a piece of history worth saving. Dad works part-time at a flying club, whose hangar and buildings was also used to train during the wars. It’s so cool to wander inside where evidence still exists of an era gone by, and see photos of this once bustling destination.

I told them they had to take photos…I really liked these ones of the barracks.

While the boys were out (and Youngest was still sleeping, his favourite activity these days), Mom and I went shopping. We bought important things, like butter tarts and a bathing suit for Eldest Son.

Though the label said the suit was large, it was a youth’s large. He couldn’t get it past his knees.

After the butter tarts, we all needed a large.

Dear Diary – A Pluviophile is a lover of rain, one who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days. And there are days when I certainly enjoy being “stuck inside” or sitting on my back porch listening to it.

Not so much when you’re on vacation, and Eldest Son was with us for only a few days. Eldest Son, Youngest Son and I descended on my folks last week. We brought food, games, and our childlike wonder (or childish antics – read that how you will). As a Mama, I’m happiest when I have my kids with me.

We’ve played Ticket to Ride, Slay, and Carcassone, and we’re all still talking to each other.

There have been a few trips to dollerama. We read our books, snoozed, snacked, and started the new series, House of Dragons. One night we sat by the fire table until the mosquitoes found us.

Youngest mostly slept. I think he’s trying to ignore the start of school, which he will have to attend in person if he is to get the credits he needs to apply for university next Spring.

One afternoon, it had rained so hard that the planter box I gave Mom for her birthday was overflowing! It was wet outside! It was wet inside too. Eldest Son brought his camp stove in to clean it at the kitchen sink. He didn’t realize that after several hours, it wasn’t fully drained and poured water all over on floor. Mom just laughed…she had cleaned the floor the day before. Eldest Son used the mop to dry feet, so he could rescue his burning eggs.

He’s inherited my “bad luck”.

The boys entertained us as we listened to them making dinner: spaghetti!

Eldest Son started making waffles too…somehow I ended up cooking them…

We also celebrated Mom’s belated birthday (with Auntie M before she went on her own big holiday) with my homemade lemon chiffon cake:

Would Paul Hollywood approve? Who cares! It was delicious!

Even the hummingbird got sick of the rain. We sneaked out between thundering rain (and sometimes thunder) for a swim one afternoon, much to the distress of a female cardinal. We thought she was searching for her missing teen. Eldest Son discovered later that she actually had a nest in the wild rose bush right beside the pool, and we were disturbing her.

She had no idea just how disturbed she’d be the next day.

It was sunny on our final full day together and we had big plans…or rather, the guys had big plans…to topple a tree. My job was simply to record it. And maybe pick up sticks.

This rotten pine tree has been a favourite of the neighbourhood flocks, particularly the woodpecker! The trunk was studded with more holes than brown pine needles, and it desperately needed to come down before it came down on it’s own volition. Eldest Son had to remove every branch with his handsaw before tying a rope to the top. Once expertly notched at the base, Dad gently pulled the tree. It slowly leaned, crackling and snapping, and pausing halfway down for dramatic effect, before the final anti-climatic thud.

Traditionally, we have celebrated the end of summer with a DQ Blizzard, so we surprised my parents with them in the afternoon.

Before dinner, the boys and I tackled Eldest Son’s car. Youngest Son couldn’t help commenting on the amount of hair (and fries) in the car. I reminded him that when you look like Chewbacca, there’s bound to be a lot of hair. While he stood on his head to retrieve food wrappers and coffee cups under the seats, I emptied and washed the console. Did you know that coffee + heat+ sawdust creates a thin”coffee” gelee disk? Yummy! I washed the gummy change too.

By evening, we were hot and tired. Eldest Son and I hopped in the pool and washed the sky fade from pink to mauve. All the birds ceased their evening chatter, except Mama cardinal who was highly offended by our presence, and simply enjoyed this moment of peace.

But the party is over! While Youngest Son and I will stay on, Eldest Son is packed and heading home. He has 5 loads of clean laundry, a clean cook stove, a clean car, and a clean body (we cleaned the pool cover this morning. It no longer smells!). We’ll miss him, of course, but will focus instead on being thankful that we have one another.

Here’s to the twilight, here’s to the memories
These are my souvenirs, my mental pictures of everything
Here’s to the late nights, here’s to the firelight
These are my souvenirs

Switchfoot, Souvenirs

Evening Tea

18 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Food

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

food, sunsets, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea photography, tea time


Last night, I enjoyed my first swim of the season. It was very relaxing…once I got my bathing suit on. It was like trying to stuff pork into a sausage casing.

After our swim, warmed up and enrobed in our pajamas, Mom and I settled in for the evening with a cup of Organic Blueberry Jam tea, by David’s Tea.

But it’s also caffeinated. It’s normally recommended that a decaffeinated or herbal tincture be consumed in the evening lest the caffeine disturb your sleep. Caffeine’s kick is highest within 1 hour of consumption and may last from 1 to 6 hours, depending on your tolerance. 

Even so, we defied convention for the sweet taste of blueberries (without added sugar), combined with the robustness of a black tea. This tea from David’s is a blend of organic black tea, organic black currants, organic blueberries, organic elderberries, cornflower petals,and stevia. It’s kosher and Fairtrade.

I sipped slowly. The sun gently slid lower, a shifting acrylic painting in shades of pinks and oranges and purples, until the crimson sphere disappeared in the cornfield. The birds ceased their daytime chatter, and the world was at rest.

Sometimes the night was beautiful, Sometimes the sky was so far away
Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close, You could touch it but your heart would break

Sometimes By Step, Rich Mullins & Beaker
The World As Best As I Remember It Vol. II

Dear Quarantine Diary – Week#28

15 Thursday Jul 2021

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

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Tags

covid-19 diary, covid-19 humour, family, humour, nature, sunsets


Dear Diary – I was jolted awake by a loud jet engine roar outside my room!

It was a cacophany of high-pitched squealing, mid-tone whining, and deep-throated rumbling. At first I thought it was some large cumbersome piece of farm equipment limping down the road. But it didnn’t limp away. I briefly fumed at mom’s neighbour, who is just the kind to guy to use loud tools early in the morning. He loves to mow his gravel early on the weekends, but it was only Friday! This horrendous noise required immediate investigation.

I went first to the front window, but there weren’t any vehicles in sight. So I stumbled to the back window, and while I could see a couple of guys in hard hats in the distance by the pipeline next door, there didn’t appear to be anything awry.

About that time, Little Guy also stumbled, bleary-eyed, from his room, wondering what a jet engine was doing in the subdivision behind us. Told ya’!

Workers by the pipeline soon started moving vehicles but without hurry, and I’ve never heard a backhoe bellow like this. Out front, 2 pickup trucks stopped by the side of the road, phones in hand, staring at something. Then a fire truck drove up, lights on but no siren. This now warranted serious exploration, so with my fuzzy blue robe belt cinched tight and my tea mug in hand, I wandered, barefoot, across the damp, spongy front yard. Five steps in and I could see the source.

Yes, white flames dancing high in the air. Was it a gas leak? A controlled vent? A marshmallow roast? There was no way to tell, but just in case we were told to evacuate, I got dressed!

What a way to start the weekend!

Dear Diary – I finally ventured into a department store to purchase Little Guy some new pants. ALL of his pants are high-water. This kid just won’t quit growing! The problem with a replacement isn’t in finding length in the pants, but width. His waist is smaller than mine (jealous) so he needs a men’s size in leg, but not so much in the middle. Pants are a problem for me too, but for different reasons. The legs are always too long and the middle is a whole ‘nother story!

Auntie M did a closet purge too and brought over a box of clothes last night and I went “shopping”. I’ve expanded my winter wardrobe a tad. I added 2 more cardigans.

Dear Diary – One more to go. My faithful father drove Little Guy and I to get Little Guy’s second shot. We celebrated with dark honey & almond chocolate from a local business. That means Hubby, Little Guy and I have all had 2 covid vaccinations shots, and Big Guy (finally!) has had his first! I’m looking forward to a grand reunion! It’s been too long!

Dear Diary – My fuzzy blue robe stepped out the front door again this week.

The telephone woke me from a lovely dream Tuesday morning. It rang and rang, and finally stopped. Blinking erratically, I checked my watch. It was only 7:30. When it started ringing again, I wondered why no one was answering? It could be the pool heater guy; he did say he’d call on his way over. So I rolled out and started out my door. The sight of Little Guy already up was a shock, and I quickly ducked back inside my room. I was only wearing a t-shirt and I could have scarred him for life. I grabbed my fuzzy blue robe and charged toward my folks’ door, noticing a white van parked alongside the road. A white van with blue lettering. The heater guy. I yelled for Dad to get dressed, and waved to the driver from the front porch. In my blue fuzzy robe. The slightly embarrassed heater guy waved back.

The pool heater is fixed, and I enjoyed my first swim of the year!

Dear Diary – Mother Nature put on quite a display Tuesday night. In addition to house-rattling thunder, we had sideways rain and a spectacular light show. It’s one of the (many) things I miss because I live in the city. Out here in the country, I can watch the light show and see the forked lightning split the night sky. On clear nights, I can see the stars and milky way. And every evening, God paints a different sky. I will never ceased to be amazed.

Dear Diary – It’s hard to believe that my mini “holiday” is nearly over. Most of our days have been spent just enjoying being together. We picked up ice cream one hot afternoon. We drank endless pots of tea. We’ve played some board games, read in the sunshine, and did absolutely nothing, because we could. One evening, we laughed at the birds and roasted marshmallows on the fire table. Probably not the healthiest choice, but still – Oh. So. Good!

I needed this rest. For my body and mind, but mostly for my soul. Did I mention my body? Next week I’m up early every day for a kid-style adventure – Vacation Bible Camp – and I’m not sure I’ll survive…

It’s Halo Night

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Family, Foolishness, Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

birthday, Halo, Overwatch, photography, sunsets, video games, zombies


It’s Halo Night!

Even though we haven’t actually played Halo in a couple of years, choosing to play Overwatch instead, Big Guy and I connect weekly on Wednesdays. It’s his fault I became a gamer. However, video games are good for me, I’ve learned some things, and there are a bunch of reasons that I play! I could probably add to that list now.

Big Guy has helped me try out some other things too! He ran in Mud Hero with me (so he’d know where my body was buried in the woods). He took me to the gun range for my 45th birthday. He also bought me my zombie killing axe after I won an axe throwing “tournament”.

Last year we were planning to ride in a tank. Instead, the highlight was my Tim Horton’s steeped tea, black (after a 40 day fast) and standing in line outside the liquor store with a group of scrawny, tattooed small town mountain men, to buy pink champagne!

My, how the times have changed!

Tonight, on the eve of my 48th birthday, I will be fighting for world domination as a battle angel with my Big Guy. Tomorrow night, I will be fighting for world domination as a Spartan with my Little Guy (who is now significantly taller than me and loving it)!

I know I’ve always said I’ve wanted a daughter, but who better to have beside me in the event of the apocalypse, than my boys!?!

Happy Wednesday!

CFFC: Sunset to Sunrise

02 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

beach, CFFC, nature photography, Photo Challenge, photography, sunrise, sunsets, tea


It’s called the “golden hour”. The light at sunrise and sunset washes the sky and landscape in a rosy hue that is unmatched by any other light source.

I have always been of the opinion that if I was meant to see sunrise, it would be later in the morning. But I have ventured from my cozy bed on 4 occasions (that I can rememer): At the riverside cottage with the geese, the beach, Thanksgiving at my folks, and Christmas morning. Most of the time I stick to Evening (Night photography is still a great challenge to overcome). This Fall I ventured to the edge of the corn field and the neighbour’s lawn at my folks. You can’t shoot great sunrises or sunsets living in the suburbs of a city.

For Cee Neuener’s Fun Foto Challenge this week, she asked for Sunset to Sunrise. Rather than posting a bunch of photos again (though the text in blue above should open some previous posts), I chose two favourites: an older sunrise and a new sunset.

This Labour Day weekend, Big Guy posed for me, and Dad and I both tried to capture the image I had in mind. We came close…

This may not be the best sunrise, but it’s one that takes me to my happy place. Right now, it’s the best way to travel. Happy Wednesday!

Its a great big place, full of nothing but space
And it’s my happy place

source: https://lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/cornergaslyrics.html

Wilderness Wednesday: Golden Sunsets

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

nature, nature photography, photography, sunsets, Wilderness Wednesday


Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It’s the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist.

Mia Kirshner, I Live Here

Happy Wednesday!

Wilderness Wednesday: Start of Fall

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

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Tags

Fall, nature photography, photography, sunsets, Wilderness Wednesday


To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of Fall.

Ann Patchett

Happy Wednesday!

Friday’s Tune: Raise a Hallelujah

07 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Faith, Photography

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Tags

faith, Friday's Tune, photography, sunsets


Some days we just have to trust a little harder, pray a little longer and sing a little louder. The King is Alive!

Raise a Hallelujah

Youtube                Lyrics

Happy Friday!

Jake Stevens | Jonathan David Helser | Melissa Helser | Molly Skaggs (c) 2018 Bethel Music Publishing

 

Wilderness Wednesday: Evening

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

CFFC, Photo Challenge, photography, sunsets


Sunset1_ed
Sunset4_ed
Lamp (1)_ed
Lamp (5)
sunset_ed
Sunset water tower

Softly the evening came with the sunset. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This is my post for Cee Neuner’s Fun Foto Challenge: Sense of Sight.

Wilderness Wednesday: Coming Home

29 Wednesday Jan 2020

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Photography

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Tags

birds, geese, photography, sunsets, Wilderness Wednesday


Sunset4_ed
Geese_ed
Feb 2019_ed (5)
Geese at sunset_ed

Happy Wednesday!

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