Sometimes it's hard

I said I was going to keep saying 2-3 weeks, 'cause it seemed manageable, but I think I need to let it go.

Things are moving along, but not as fast as we'd like. It's unsettling having our lives in the hands of others who may not feel like coming to work one day, or who put off doing a task for another day or two (we work with these guys...we know how they roll!) and that makes the difference of a day, or week or longer to us. To them it's a job, to us it's our lives. We simply do not know what's going on until it happens; things could be delayed for any number of reasons and we simply don't even know that it's being delayed. It can be very irritating to somebody who like a little lot of control.

All we do know is we don't have him. Or her. Or them. Just kidding, there's only one coming;)

We do know that we are being profiled on September 5th. This means that at a big meeting with the adoption workers for both the kids and potential parents, our worker will say she has a new family that is approved and give them a quick run down of us. Then the kids' adoption workers can read our home study and decide if we are a match for any of their kids on their case load.

This all seems great in theory, but very processey since we already know the kid we want and we know he needs a home. What's the problem people?! It kinda seems like this to me:  2+2 = 4 but so does 2+2-4+2+2-2+2 =4. One way is obviously easier and is a simpler and more logical way to go when you are going to arrive at the same answer in the end. Chances are it's going to be him, so why take the long way around when the destination is the same?

It's really hard to go about the day to day things knowing that he's doing the same. Without us. To know things like that he's going out this weekend to the Corn Maze. Yes I realize how silly and insignificant that sounds, but I wanted to do that. I've thought of doing that and imagined it and looked all over the website so I'd know exactly what we should do when we get there and I wrote it on a list of fun things we can do together with admission prices and times and everything. And I don't get to do it. Somebody else is (I happen to know the somebody else which is why we know about him in the first place). And it makes me want to stomp my feet and scream "it's not fair".

So that's where we are at; wait some more, then hurry up and wait some more. We meet with our worker on September 7th to chat...then I'm sure we will feel a little better, get tidbits of info that hold us for a while until the waiting gets too much again. This process until now has been easy, way easier than I thought it would be. But today, today was not a good adoption day. It's sad and frustrating and about 14 other emotions I can't even identify. I know it will pass. And I find a small, ok maybe a bit more than small comfort knowing that he's in good hands even if they aren't ours quite yet.

Weekend, and then some, Review

We had another great summer weekend, although slightly quieter. On Friday night we harvested our peas and potatoes...and one lone carrot. It was nice to convince Anthony to come outside for a while - I've been teaching him how to build fires and light matches (Cub Scout prep you know) and he's getting pretty good at it. He got bored pretty quick with helping in the garden, but did ask if he could practice chopping wood again so that was exciting. We may have have eaten more smores too...

I harvested most of the carrots and beets a few days later. Last year the pickled beets turned out great, carrots not so much. With so much (ha) vast knowledge of pickling behind me, I'm going to do the beets again. I've also got a huge bag of cherries pitted and in the freezer waiting to become jam. I think I will spend the coming weekend in the kitchen!

 

On Saturday we had some friends over for a BBQ and I saw this amazing recipe on Pinterest that I really wanted to make. But like all things Pinterest, you have a 50/50 shot of it working out. Deep fried cream cheese stuffed cherries was in the fail category. It was quiet sad.

 

But then you have cute cats who roll around on the deck and 

make you smile and you forget about failing at Pinterest.

 

I started a sewing kick. I'm so excited to start my quilt with Christine, she's sending me the rest of the fabric in the mail this week and then we can start piecing our 2(?) year in the making transcontinental masterpiece. (More on that later) but basically it inspired me to get lots of little projects out of the way so I can focus on that when the time comes. That and the awesome fabric I bought on line that should be arrivng any day...I gots some busy fall sewing days ahead! While I wait, I made some hot/cold bags for the little. I also want to make Anthony a big warm bag as he likes to cuddle up with them under a blanket with a book in the winter (sometimes I question if we aren't related, seriously).

 I also, brace yourself, made some Christmas presents. Little pocket warmers!

They also double for some bean bag action, if you're into that kind of thing.

 AND, I made another baby quilt, pretty similar to the last elephant 

one but this one involved working around a very cute and cuddly kitty.

Sunday I spent at Fabricland gathering some pieces to supplement the upcoming quilting marathon, and hung out with Anthony playing board games and bocce ball. Now, we are well into the week and I have a few more little sewing projects to catch up on before the weekend, which may or may not require a sick day at work. We are off to Globalfest on Friday and Sunday (a huge fireworks competition) and so it is sure to be another great one!  Hope you are having a fabulous week too:)

The Waiting Game

We are officially approved and signed off...and now we wait. This whole process has been fairly simple and straightforward, and if you take out all the emotional drama that comes hand in hand with adoption, it's actually been a painless journey.

Except the waiting.

The not knowing what is happening next and when it is going to happen is terrible. We've heard this next phase could take a couple of weeks, or a month, and that some people wait up to a year without a whisper of news (we know it won't be that long since we may already have a match with a boy we know about) but no matter how short or long it ends up being, I know I won't do it with grace. With ease. Or any other nice words that I would want to describe myself with. I wish I could but I'm all over the map already. I cry, I gush, I'm excited, I'm frustrated...in short, I'm crazy. I have a meeting at work and think "is this my last?" We pass through a weekend that Anthony goes to his moms and I think "is this the last kid free weekend ever?!" But then another meeting comes and another weekend comes and I feel a teensy bit more loopy.

But, I am optimistic that in our case the wait won't be too long. Knowing a bit of what is going on behind the scenes (because of our jobs) is helpful and I find some comfort in it. We keep telling everyone, including ourselves, "could be 2 or 3 weeks now". But we've been saying that for a few weeks and it's lost it's time-meaning, but I think I'm going to stick with it 'cause 2 or 3 weeks sounds doable. I can day dream about snuggles on the couch, hot chocolate picnics on cool fall days in the park, plan and find more free things to do with a 4 year in the city, collect toilet paper roles and yogurt containers (yes I really am) But only for 2 or 3 more weeks. Then I'm hitting the crazy button!

In the meantime, I'm off to pull some potatoes out of the garden and pit some cherries for cherry jam to try to keep myself busy. We shall keep you posted on the waiting.

Holy Fantastic Summer Batman!

In the winter, I don't really leave the house. I'm a couch and blanket kinda gal. But in the summer - whooweee! We've been movin' and shakin' all over the city. This is all in between buying furniture and assembling it, editing our home study and freaking out about our adoption getting closer, working...sort of...and trying to garden among the hoards of wasps (see below). Here's what we've been up to in no less than 21 pictures, no particular order cause that would be too difficult for blogger...have I ever mentioned just how much I love my Android phone? And how Gord puts up with me taking pictures. All. The. Time?

Fringe Festival and Sunfest. The two go hand in hand. We didn't get to see as many plays this year as we have the previous two but we still had fun and the weather was fan-freakin'-tastic. We even

 

We bought bocce ball. We've only been out once, but it's ready and 

waiting by the front door for any impromptu game that may pop up.

 One of us went to his first sleep away camp and had blast

 (this was the before where things were a bit more unsure)

We ate at the Calgary Food Trucks one night for dinner. 

It was by the river, it was hot. I had lemon gelato. Nuff said. 

 

Went to the Chinese Festival with Anthony and his friend Max. Then took them for 

Thai food (makes sense right?) I got the sense it was Max's first time eating 

something more exotic than a pb and j....he did pretty good considering!

 I made cheese sauce from scratch, with no recipie. I think this officially means I can cook. This is big news.

  We had lumberjack training camp in the back yard. Anthony was pretty good and I was very impressed since he can barely life the ax! He was very determined and worked really hard and did better than I can!

 

 Enter the rolo smore. Say no more, except this: This coming weekend there are plans for 

some more serious smore testing and experimenting. We know how to rock a campfire.

 I made two baby quilts. The plan is to sell some and fund me getting out of the house while on parental leave. I want to learn Spanish and maybe take some kind of dance class again...anybody in the quilt market?

 We've had a couple of wicked storms the last week and this was trying to break into our

house during one of them. So loud it was unbelievable. We were luck though and had no 

major damage like some people who had their windshields smashed out of the cars!

 I got stung by a wasp for the first time ever. I had no idea is was different from a bee sting and man alive did it ruin a couple of days for me! I did not react well to the little sucker but the doc said nothing I can do. These were from 4 and 5 days after the bite. 3 weeks later I still have a small hole in the back of my leg!

 We volunteered at my works annual casino. As you can see by how they serve their tea, it's

a classy joint. I watched the food network for 8 hours in between my very infrequent duties.

Gord and I found a Peruvian restaurant. We had Inca Cola and an appetizer. Then Gord informed me I just ate beef heart. I wanted to run and hide. But I ate one more piece just to prove I could do it. I don't know if I need to prove it again. Ever.

This weekend should be a bit quieter...maybe...but we still have lots on the go and lots of fun summer plans in the works. Hope you are all well:)

Grey Quilt

Finally. Finished.

 

 

                                                                                        Flannel back. Oooohhh. 

 

 

                                                                                     Kitty Approves!

CrackTub

Part of my preparing for little kiddo was fixing the cracktub.

Our very neglected upstairs bathtub that was so bad that the curtain was practically locked in place so nobody would have to look at the disaster and we all ignored it and showered downstairs. Not knowing what age of child we are getting and whether they will need bathing in a tub or not, I though it may not be fair to force a youngin' in the cracktub if I didn't even want to go in it.

So, I began a hunt of how to re-enamel a tub and a few days of head-spinning toxicity and fuming everyone downstairs to sleep - voila!

                                                                                                    Before

                                                                                                   After

                                                                           No more cracktub. Ready for kiddo!

I'm not kidding, the chemicals were bad. This mask did nothing but make Gord feel better...but it's shiny!!!