Cutting the Mustard?

Cousin Bill and his wife, Doreen, were visiting from British Columbia so we were visiting with them and having a roast beef dinner at Granny Trudy and Grandpa Dennis' place.

Isobel had overheard a conversation about different types of mustard while in the kitchen.

Later, at the table, she devoured her Yorkshire Pudding and wanted another.

"Can I have another one of those Dijon Muffins?," Isobel asked.

Her request was rewarded with another Yorkshire Pudding ... and then a few more after that!

Maybe one day I'll master the recipe for "Dijon Muffins," too! Surely Granny isn't the only one who can make Yorkshire Pud!

Red and Blue??

Isobel has known her colours for a long time. This is partially due to John quizzing her when she eats Smarties... asking her the colour of each little chocolate filled candy.

This week the Kindergarten curriculum is focused on the colours RED and BLUE. Today (Tuesday, September 14) she was instructed to wear red clothing to class and on Thursday the students are asked to wear blue. These instructions were written in Isobel's Agenda last week, on the last day of class.

When I told Isobel what the book said, and that she would be learning about red and blue she said: "I know RED and BLUE but I am going to pretend that I don't because they might kick me out [of Kindergarten.]

I don't think there is much chance of that happening, but I did report this amusing statement to Miss Weekes, her teacher!

Cherry Wine and Fatso Laird

The cherry tree had ripened fruit - not as much as last year, but fruit none-the-less.

Alisdair decided he wanted to make some cherry jelly, using Granny Trudy's recipe and so he began to pick the fruit into a big stainless steel bowl. Isobel saw him doing this and wanted to help. An argument ensued and Isobel was clearly upset by it. She left and went to do something else. Shortly afterwards, Alisdair lost interest in picking cherries and left the bowl on the back step.

John had a fire burning and I joined him in a plastic lawnchair near the fire pit. Isobel was hovering around until John told her to go pick some fresh peas from the garden and told her she could eat the contents of a few pods.

She ran off, into the yard next door. All was quiet for a while -- too quiet for too long... and then suddenly Isobel ran past us, her hands covered in a blood red substance. For a moment I thought it WAS blood. And then the penny dropped... she'd gotten into the bowl of cherries.

I went to check and, sure enough, the unwashed cherries had been turned into what looked like cherry wine. Squished and fermenting in the bowl with bugs flying around the dish. Fit only for the compost bin.

I was angry and went in search of the culprit. She was nowhere to be found. I told John what had happened.

He thought for a moment and then he said something very cryptic and yet very wise, "That sounds like something Fatso Laird's friend would do!" And then he reminded me that there were still other cherries on the tree and we could still pick some of them and probably we would still have enough to make jelly.

I knew he was right about Fatso Laird and her friend. And so I went to find Isobel, who reappeared once she realized my anger had waned, and I proceeded to wash her sticky hands.

As I washed Isobel's tiny palms I wondered about Mrs. Laird. Was she still alive? Did she still remember the young girl who got angry at her, one day when Mrs. Laird was volunteering at her son's school, and wrote "Fatso Laird" on a piece of masking tape and stuck it on her bottom? And now, as a woman of 48 -- far removed from the girl in Grade 5 or 6, who had done the deed -- I wondered what I would do if some mischievous kid did the same thing to me??

At the time of the incident, my parents made me apologize to Mrs. Laird -- but I wasn't truly sorry. It was only a ritual of obedience. But when I saw the squished cherries and the angry little girl lashing out,I fully understood. Later, John and I laughed about the fact that Isobel was "so much like her Mother" -- but deep down sometimes I still feel the need to truly apologize to Mrs. Laird (if I ever track her down) -- for my transgression almost 40 years ago. Now I am both the angry little girl -- and Mrs. Laird herself -- all wrapped up into the same person...."Fatso Laird's" secret friend....

The List

Isobel found an old receipt from the Post Office and had scribbled on the back of it. She told me it was a list of all the things she needed to make her room beautiful. According to her, the list included "Four FO-KAYS and a beautiful picture for the wall". (A FO-KAY is a bouquet of flowers.)

I took the list and read it aloud, telling her that it also said she needed, "a battery for the Dora clock, to clean up the mess on the floor and to hang the family picture on the wall."

She seemed disgusted at my suggestions and then, all of a sudden, she said (somewhat exasperatedly), "You can't even READ SQUIGGLES!"

I guess she's right. I can't!

A New Doxology...

While Isobel was staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house, she began learning to sing "The Doxology."

The day after she returned home, she was singing snippets of the song - seeming to forget the words at the beginning of the lines but coming on strong at the end of the phrases.

I was cooking lunch as I tried to help Isobel learn the rest of the words. After a while she went on to another activity. When lunch was ready, I told her, "Now is the time you could sing your song."

A smile burst across her face and she began to sing loudly, "Johnny, Johnny, Johnny" -- a song she often sings when her Stepdad returns home after a long day at work.

"No, the other song," I told her, not suggesting the words "Praise God from who all blessings flow."

Enthusiastic and undaunted, Isobel began again for a second time singing, "Shake your bum to the music."

Finally -- on our third try, we were able to sing the Doxology.

Now I am left wondering what would happen, if at our next extended family gathering, we sang, "Shake Your Bum to the Music" as our table grace?!

The Colourful Game...

Alisdair was excitedly running around before school trying to find some green clothes to wear as it was "Rider Pride" day at school. They were having a tailgate party for lunch (selling burgers and pop) and he was totally into it as he cheers for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on a regular basis.

"Green is the colour and football is the game..." he sang as he arrived in the bedroom, where Isobel was lying on the bed watching cartoons.

Immediately she began to sing, too -- and on key! Only Isobel had her own lyrics "Red is the colour and soccer is the game!"

That girl can sure think on her feet and keeps surprising me and making me laugh!

Just like an Elephant!

My washing machine has leaked for years but it has been getting worse and worse as time has gone on. Our local appliance repairman has fixed various problems but he seems reluctant to return to examine it to determine what is wrong is this time.

I kept saying that it was "my good machine" and in my mind I was thinking it was still "new." Then it finally hit me, that we had purchased the Whirlpool before my son was born -- and he just celebrated his tenth birthday.

New hubby said he wasn't an appliance repairman and maybe it was just "worn out" and we should replace the machine. Although I was worried about the cost, I agreed to go look at new washers on Thursday evening.

So the four of us all trucked over to Home Depot and picked out an Amana front loader. Unfortunately the store doesn't keep appliances in stock and so you have to place your order and wait for a couple of weeks for delivery.

After we left, I took the kids to McDonalds for a late supper. As she was eating her fries Isobel looked up at me and innocently asked "Is the washing machine in the trunk, Mummy..."

I guess she remembered waiting in line at the check out and she remembered us saying that we were buying a new machine, but she didn't remember seeing it packed up! So I quickly explained to her how the order process worked.

Now Isobel and I are eagerly awaiting the telephone call that will signal the arrival of the new appliance... and we'll all soon be wearing clean clothes! I can't wait!

Age ... From a Child's Perspective...

Yesterday we were in the city and went to McDonalds so Isobel could get a Happy Meal and "Build-a-Bear" toy... Of course John, her stepdad, refuses to eat at that particular restaurant. So Isobel and I went in and I got two "take out" meals. Then John drove to the nearest A & W and went in to order what he wanted to eat.

Meanwhile, Isobel and I sat in the gold station wagon waiting for him to return. She happily ate one of her chicken nuggets and then urgently exclaimed "I can feel some pee!"

Since she is newly potty trained, I instinctively knew there was no time to waste. I grabbed the keys from the ignition and got her seatbelt unbuckled and got her swept into the restaurant -- almost in one motion. I thrust the keys into John's hand and we were off to the ladies room.

When we emerged I told Isobel to go and look and see if she could find John because I wasn't sure if he would be in the lobby or waiting for us in the car. She went for a quick glance at the booths and was back by my side almost immediately.

I didn't have to ask if she had found John because she excitedly exclaimed in a loud voice "I don't see GRAY HAIR anywhere!"

So we went to the car and, sure enough, her patient grey haired stepdad was waiting there for our return!

I just had to laugh....

A moment to remember, for sure!