That time of year, again

Not this morning, but a few days ago....and just because (click to enlarge)



We are still in the tail end of this year's burning season, but it is time to start getting ready for the next one. We had logs delivered last fall, where they've been sitting all winter. Larry also took a few trees from our property. But....seeing as the snow has gone...it's now time to deal with the pile.

Larry and Tyler have spent the last two mornings, carting them up and then sawing them. Hopefully, one more morning should do it for the cutting part...then comes the splitting and stacking. Brittney and Jake (and hopefully I will be well enough to pitch in too) will help with the stacking part. Our goal, as long as the weather co-operates, is to have most of it done by the end of the week.

Bringing the logs up


Tyler is sooo strong!


Positioning it just right


The fun part... (and Tyler trying to hide from the camera....he is sooo different from his brother ;0)


Carting more logs..


Still more...


The pile so far...

Passing Ships

As I've mentioned once....or maybe even twice (*wink*), I love looking out over the Atlantic Ocean and seeing all it has to offer. No two days are ever the same.

One thing we see a lot of here, is passing ships. Some big, some small (although...I'm sure if we could get close enough, the small ones, wouldn't actually be that small). Some look like 'normal' boats, while others look downright strange. Some are obviously fishing boats....and others...well....we're not quite sure. Because we are on the northeast corner of North America (betcha didn't know NA had 'corners'...did ya?), it always leaves me wondering about these ships...where they are going, where they have been and what their purpose is.

Here is a sampling of today's passing ships. Click the pictures to enlarge them.

This one headed south (sorry..I know it blends in with the water and is hard to see...but if you click to enlarge, it will bring it up better)




Sailing away....soon will disappear around the point...




Later this afternoon, three more.... (traffic jam....Newfoundland style ;) )




And...an early morning sunrise picture from the other day....




Taken from a trail not too far from our place...




This is only our third Spring here, so we're hardly experts lol....but by this time for the last two years, our bay (and most of the whole island) was packed with sea ice. Not this year though....not a single piece of ice to be seen (not from here anyway). Apparently, it is a very poor year for ice...which has left me wondering about icebergs (specifically if this will mean no icebergs). I was asking our neighbour (who is a Scientist), about this. She said there are a few out there....they aren't very big ones...but there are some. Woo hoo! (Little icebergs are better than no icebergs). She also feels it will be an early iceberg season! Woo hoo!!! I'm just hoping they are big enough to make it down this far south. ('cuz you know if there are icebergs out there....they're sure to get mentioned here. Yep...and pictures too.)

Stay tuned....

An Award

Dominique over at 4Walls and A View has awarded me with The Happiness Award.

Thanks so much, Dominique!

:)

Now, I am to list 10 things that make me happy....so here goes (and they are not in any particular order)

1) CHOCOLATE --- Need I say any more?? ;)

2) Family

3) Friends --- both irl and on-line

4) Travelling

5) The Ocean and all the beauty it has to offer (icebergs, whales to name only two)

6) Newfoundland and living on the ocean

7) Health

8) Sunshine

9) Good food

10) Homeschooling


Now, I am supposed to nominate others who make me happy, but it's so hard to narrow it down. I am truly blessed by all of the blogs I read...so thanks to all of you!

University Preparedness

I can hardly believe I'm writing this post. It seems as if it was just yesterday Tyler was bouncing around, watching Barney, playing with his dump trucks (and filling my basement with dirt) and eating "Wa was with the ows cut off" (waffles with the hard outside edges cut off).

Tyler at about age 2


But .... I am.

He is finishing up his last year of high school and ready to move on with his life. He's been considering his options, a lot of things for young people to wade through. After many considerations, he's decided on a plan (loosely at this stage, but a plan nonetheless).

He took an English Language Assessment test through a university, to see if he's ready to handle this level of courses. An "Am I Ready for studies in _________". Hmmm...I must admit, I was more than a bit nervous (for a couple of reasons) while he was doing this test. This is where the 'rubber hits the road' for many homeschoolers. A time to see how effective ....or non-effective..... your homeschooling has been. Hmm...what will happen if all those naysayers over the years have been right....what then? What if we've ruined his life by homeschooling? Yes at this point I was having many moments of second guessing myself....moments quite the same as I did when we first started homeschooling.

Add into this, our English program ended at Grade 8. (For the years 9-11 we did French). He has not had any real English studies or instruction in going on four years. Oh no...more panic setting in. (Although, knowing he may very well be required to write an English exam somewhere along the line in order to enter a post- secondary institution, he did 'glance over' (in his spare time) the grade 8 English book again this past year.)

He did not study for the test (against my better judgement). He just decided that today was the day to do it and went ahead with it.

He had three hours in which to complete the test.

He finished in less than 2 hours.

Here are his scores:

Your Results
Section Your
Score
GRAMMAR: Part A 90%
GRAMMAR: Part B 80%
GRAMMAR: Part C 70%
READING: Vocabulary 90%
READING: Comprehension 80%
WRITING: Sentence Completion 80%
WRITING: Transitions 90%
WRITING: Definitions 40%
WRITING: Sequencing 100%
WRITING: Sentence Descriptors 60%

Overall Score 78%


A couple of things stand out to me here. First of all the sections on Writing: Definitions (40%)...this area was totally new to him...he had not studied this area at all.

Also the section on WRITING: Sequencing 100%. This one makes me smile. You see...when he was in Kindergarten, he apparently had great difficulties in sequencing. Almost daily, the teacher would meet me at the door to tell me of Tyler's difficulty of that day. Sequencing was just one of those problem areas. She was certain he had a learning disability and warned of his impending doom if we didn't deal with this problem at once. We didn't as we didn't see any problem. (At home, when things were quiet, I would ask Tyler about these difficulties...if he understood what was being asked, if he could hear when she was speaking etc. He always assured me he could. When I probed a little bit further....the response I would get would be something like this: "Who cares if the little boy grabbed his hat first or his bat first??? What difference does it make??? As long as he gets everything....that's all that matters.") Oh boy....Tyler...

Yes...I'm breathing a little bit easier today.

Congrats, Tyler! Good luck in your future endeavours ;)

Taken at his last birthday (we don't have too many pics of him...he is a bit camera shy ;))

An award

My blog has received an award! Linda, over at Remote Treechanger has awarded me the Sunshine Award! Thanks, Linda!

I like this award too....the colours are so vivid and the flower...they all remind me of summer which, we here in most parts of North America, are eagerly awaiting!




The conditions of this award is to post it and then award other bloggers who brighten my day. Hmmm...that is just too difficult as all the blogs I read brighten my day! Sooo...thanks to all of you!

Thanks, Tom!

Wow, what a nice tribute by Tom Brokaw (nice scenery pics too).

Thanks! (Some interesting facts.....I learned a couple of things that I didn't know before)





Second Edited to Add --- Ooops...it appears to be back!

....but just in case it goes MIA again, here's a link to an article about it. for article, click here

Valentine's Party

Thursday, was the Valentine's party with the homeschooling group. Jake was quite excited about this for about a week before it happened (I know...it's hard to imagine Jake excited *grin*). He had his Dad pick up some Valentine's cards and he carefully hand-addressed each one.

It was to be combined with their regular weekly skating session, which was a huge help. Usually, parties/events are held in the other end of town, which makes it almost impossible for us to attend. However, with the arena being only 20 minutes away...and with the fact it was combined with something they already attend each week, this was so convenient. My health issues still had to be worked around though. Our section of the alphabet was to bring sandwiches...which presented a major problem for me. This part is *so* frustrating for me....things I never thought twice about doing in the past are now quite often impossible to accomplish. Like he has done all through this whole thing, Larry stepped up to the plate. I feel guilty about this as he's stuck doing most things I used to be responsible for (housework, dishes, groceries, paying bills...the list goes on), plus working outside of the home earning money, looking after the kids and also the outside work (snow shovelling/yard work etc.). I'm really afraid this is all taking a toll on him and worried it will affect his health too. Then, we really will be in trouble.

He made a list, went to the grocery store and bought the items necessary for the sandwiches. When he returned home, he carefully made them (did a great job too!). He packed them on plates, got the kids organized (skates, hockey sticks, helmets, coats, mits, hats, valentines, container for other valentines), organized himself (he had to head to work from the party so needed his brief case etc.) Thankfully Tyler can drive now...but those details had to be worked out as well. Seeing as Larry had to leave early to go to work, they would be responsible for making sure everything they took....got brought back home (which it did....they've all been a huge help through this as well.)

With lots of confusion happening, they were finally organized enough to leave. I would have liked to have gone...but the party was upstairs (which I can't do yet) and the skating area is at the other end of the arena (which I also can't do). It was quiet here while they were gone. I am really trying to not be bitter, but must admit I'm more than a little disappointed with many people and institutions. It's been a long month and a phone call (or even an email) would have gone a long ways...especially on days the pain was so bad I needed to remain close to my bed. I am thankful though, for all of my you, my blogging pals....your support (messages, comments on here and emails etc.) have meant so much....thanks to all of you! (My Dad has called a couple of times and also my friend Kathie....so I have had three calls lol. Did I mention it's been a long month? lol)

I napped for the afternoon and eventually they returned home. All in all they had a good time.

Hopefully....next event, I will be able to...no...I *will* go with them (this is my goal anyway).