a peek inside the fishbowl

I love this time of year. I’ve been gardening outside … well, not really gardening, just raking and puttering and breaking up big sticks into little sticks (which I find immensely therapeutic) to cover a non-grassy area in the back of the backyard.We’ve been busy around here, and as a family we’ve had very little time for things like homework or watching television. I prefer to eat dinner and then go outside. Last night we went for a swim at the local pool. The night before we did a 2km walk/scooter around the neighbourhood. The night before that we walked to the liquor store. (Hey, it’s as good a destination as any!)

I suppose this question is mostly for families of Northern climes, but I would like to know, when the good weather hits is anyone out there still watching TV during the week? And why?

It’s so easy to go outside. I’d say it’s even easier than plunking down in front of the TV, and so much better for us. I love being able to open the door and say ‘go.’ Sometimes I like to add a RUN LIKE THE WIND for good measure.

As parents, one of the things I think we’re doing right is also giving our children lots of time for unstructured outdoor play.

The girls had a little friend come over the other day, and I couldn’t believe all the stuff they came up with to do. They were busy for hours. They climbed the tree, they looked for bugs, they played house,  and horsey, they rolled around on the lawn, they picked seeds off the dry Morning Glory vines, they dug in the compost bin, they planted the seeds in little flower pots… and lord knows what else. Mind you, they were so dirty by the end of it that even the garden hose wouldn’t get them clean … but I think the effort required to give the kids a quick bird bath at the end of the day is a small price to pay for a couple of happy and healthy children.

Today, we are getting a huge pile of dirt delivered to our house. So instead of that trip to the park the family will be spreading said dirt across our front lawn, delivering some to our starving and neglected flowerbeds, and planting more clover seeds.

Yay Spring! I thought you’d never come.

… and singing on the walk home from the gym. I shudder to think my neighbors heard me. Here it is on YouTube*.

* Whoa, is there ever some bad acting/direction in that video.

I can see the director now:

“Okay, when you hear the word RESPECT being sung, you hold up you little card and give it TO THE OTHER GUY. GET IT???!??!”

And what’s with the hobo bags? The toiling in the fields? The stuff falling from the sky? Walking away with the letter P? Man.

Do you remember when we put a message in a bottle (two bottles, actually) and threw them in the Ottawa River? It was in August 2007… well one of them has been found! (!!!)

We got this lovely email this morning:

Hi Emma and Sarah Moms and Dads,
Just to let you know that on April 11th 2008, the employee Gilles of Domtar founded one of your two bottles including your drawing dated August 23, 2007.

Domtar ( use to be E.B. Eddy ) have three power houses to produce electricity. One of them is located near the Tache Boulevard and Montcalm street. The bottle was found in the power house racks, which are there to stop debris like trees, wood, branches and weeds, so they not go inside the turbines.

So I know we are not very far from where you drop the bottles, but now, you know it can work !

Next time, ask your mom and dad to drop your next bottles from the Chaudiere bridge. The next power house or dam who can stop your bottles, is the Hydro-Quebec Carillon power house around Pointe-Fortune near Montreal. So, they will do a longer trip and probably more chance that somebody find one of your bottle.

So, now we know that two little girls had a dream to send a message around the world, but it was founded not to far away from here! But, may be next time, it will reach the ocean ! By the way, thank you for your drawing, which is very nice !

They also emailed a scan of the original note and artwork. (I think this one was Sarah’s.)

I am thrilled. I can’t wait to tell the girls.