September

It almost nearing the end of September and so heres a quick run down:

Feeling - definitely cooler at night although the days are still lovely and warm. I would say its now crisp at night, yes thats the best word for it.

Listening to - Taylor Swift 1989 - I love it, I think its my guilty pleasure. Especially Wildest Dreams.

Into - overnight oats for breakfast, the current fav is apples, sultanas, cinnamon and greek yoghurt with chia seeds (I am SO healthy!) and coconut almond milk. I read earlier that the second ingredient in that milk is actually sugar so I am thinking of returning to an old love - Silk Soya milk after finding out that it is in fact not actually dangerous for me.

Working - too hard on budgets, I love budgets but I am not a fan of cramming it all into one week, it removes some of the love....

Craving - nothing actually, I just had to think about that and I figured that if I have to think that hard then there cant actually be anything although I would rather love a good nights sleep right now.

Wishing for - a return to running. I miss it and the pounds have crept back on. I need to get my shit back together and make a return.

Enjoying - the world of horses again. I love the being at the barn at night with the smells, the sounds, the ambience. Being able to get a great response from a horse when you ask him to do something, having a great ride where you achieve something together, theres no feeling like it.

Appreciating - my children, I am so lucky to have them.

Waiting for - Nashville to return tonight, the DVR is set as its on way too late for me and then Blood and Oil starts this weekend and something called Quantico that looks wildly exciting. Its the return to Fall TV shows and they had better live up to all the advertising hype.

Wondering if - the pumpkin in the fridge will be ok to make into pumpkin pancakes on saturday morning when its sat there all week. The pumpkin pancakes rock!

A couple of photos from a few weekends ago, we were getting ready to go out to an English tea party

And the latest one of our house, note the leaves are still green, long may they stay on the trees....

Ace and the girls

We had a great horse weekend and introduced Ace to Lauren, Chloes friend. They had a great time hanging out with him and I loved watching them all interact.
I think it was the last of the hot weekends though, we had to close the windows last night as its cooled down considerably at night. I think summer is finally say "Au revoir"

Hubby away in the UK

Hubster has been in the UK for almost a week now hanging out with his family, my dad and our almost family Angie. Hes eaten a variety of Brit food and I have been wildy jeaous but hes promised to bring back the French fancies and bakewell tarts ( but no aromatic crispy duck - I wish we could figure out a way for that one). Today he had lunch with my dad in this place:
The Friars Oak in Hassocks

And I suddenly felt an overwhelming longing to be there too. I have driven past this place since I was a little girl and of course spent time there. I even went so far as to lookup houses for sale on Rightmove. That was shortlived! All hideously expensive, too small, no land blah blah blah under $1m
There was one place that was going for GBP357k that was on a main road, too small and in dire need of renovation. Who needs it?!! And they dont have a proper summer. I got over it. (or a proper winter for that matter) But their spring is hard to beat...I will give the British Isles that.

So he comes home bearing goodies tomorrow and the girls cant wait. I have heard on more than 10 occasions how much they miss daddy and that "its not the same"
Of course it isnt. I have been in a state of mild aggravation all weekend because I just cant sit and do nothing as theres too much laundry, dishes, meals to cook, cleaning up to do, dog hair to remove and dogs to walk. And then of course we spend waaaay too much time at the barn because its so lovely there but it eats into all my time to do all the above.
I take my hat off to all the single parents, those with partners that work away or are in the military and those married to lazy asses. I dont know how you do it!

Quick weather update - still warm, it has a feels like 30C today although its horribly overcast out there and its rained all weekend so that back garden is back to being a bog, happy days,

Is Fall on its way already?

This last week has seen a marked differnece in the weather. In the day there is still overwhelming heat but the humidity is not so intense and its cooler at night. This means of course that darling hubby is back sleeping upstairs and I need to actually make an effort in the morning now with my appearance.
Its also going back to school week so the girls are bringing the out of control bedtime routine back down to normal, under duress of course but we have a plan.
Last night I imposed the 10pm lights out. This had been agreed in advance with the whippersnappers but was of course met by grumbles. They were out for the count within moments. High five for good parenting to me.
Tonight I am bringing it right down to shock horror 9.30pm! And tomorrow night too. And then on Wednesday night they will be in a normal bedtime for school routine. Wish me luck.

These cooler evening temps mean a return to the hot tub. This is rather nice. I love that its dark at 8.15pm now ( I know, I am weird) but the windows are still open , the crickets are still making a racket and I can put all my scentsy lamps on and actually see the ambience again.

Chloe is all about Fall, shes already making plans for chicken pot pie and Fall wardrobe choices. I am not 100% there yet even though I like the darker evenings. I am in no way racing back to cooler temps (you know COLD temps with frost and woolies and dare I say it SNOW) As far as I am concerned what we have right now can hang around for another couple of months, I still have beach plans.

Below are some pics from our weekwed tubing, it was rather fab, especially the slow fly by of the bald eagle.
We are go for launch:

He sat and watched us as we floated by:

 Lily and I:

 Goodbye Mr Eagle:

Pedestrians and fog

So the other day I went on a tirade about the thrills and spills of being a driver here. Yesterday I was a pedestrian out for a stroll and this is what was fun about it.
I stopped at a crosswalk like the responsible adult I am always harping on about and waited for the driver of the first car to spot me before I crossed. It flew by. So glad I didnt move. By the time the next four cars had also driven through the crosswalk at speed I began to "get it" - the pedestrians point of view. So for some drivers "does one have to step out to be acknowledged as wanting to cross?"
Is this why seasoned pedestrians here just walk out and ignore the screeching brakes?
Is there a war between drivers and pedestrians here? The "I have the right of way" war? The "one hates the other" kind?

Lets compare it the UK where I spent most of my life. There the car has the right of way. Pedestrians have to wait for lights to cross or choose the "stop, wait,look and listen" at any place on any road - not anything with 6 lanes of course as that would be stooopid!
Then they can cross when its clear or when a friendly driver stops for them and that happens a lot.
If on the other hand they dare to step out into traffic without that friendly driver wave they are immediately cussed at, glared at or in fact, driven at. I think this is a UK scare tactic and its very effective.

So -whats better?
Personally I prefer the UK way but maybe thats because thats what I am used to. The "friendly driver wave" or flash of headlights (same meaning) is everywhere. You never have to wait long to cross. Its certainly easier for the drivers as no one really jumps out in front of you unless they are nutty and have a death wish.


Outside its hot today, bright hot sunlight with an intense fog bank out in the water, its all a little surreal and rather cool, here are some pictures I just took at lunchtime:

 Container ship rolling past in the fog bank

 Fog bank off the harbour walk

This is the waterfront warehouse, where we sat in June 2010 and discussed moving to Nova Scotia, here we are (my babies were so little then):

And, from last night - Ace and I (hes so big we need a selfie stick)

A new family member

So... I dared. I disturbed the Universe. I thought about it for over a week (unlike me so it was responsible and even talked myself out of it once) but in the end I DID IT.
Or rather we did, without darling husbands agreement it would have been a no go ( he agreed although I know he has concerns) anyhow....

Remember this guy:

Heres another in his Fall jacket:

well, hes joined the family.
It was worth it to see Chloes face when I told her. She scrunched up into herself and cried. Little red face with wet eyes.

He is an awesome horse! His personality, his age, his size, his ability, his calmness. Hes just perfect for us. He turned up at kind of the wrong time but I am making it work.

I personally am so very excited to go back to dressage and he has ability and promise, but also trail riding, stall cleaning, tack cleaning, grooming, the fresh air and healthy mental wellbeing that comes with a horse.
So now we are planning his colour scheme of stuff - likely red - he looks like red is his colour.

For me, I want it all (No, not a ferrari or first class flight everywhere - I have accepted the reality of that never being in my life) but I do want to be able to still go here:

each year. It may sound crazy to some but its my so very important place. It HAS to happen.
So... no more day in day out dining out lunches at work ( I have started well today with breakfast and lunch brought in) as theres no need to be so lazy. Let me introduce you to the new, improved, organized Natasha who will no longer be frequenting the delicious establishments on my work doorstep.

August - so far

Dare I disturb the Universe? That was what I read on someones blog today and I LOVED it.
Yes I dare. I dared before and all was good and I will dare again. I am thinking of disturbing the universe in a big way but still cogitating on that one.

So August so far for me, for us:

Digging : (well Paul is, I am just supervising) a trench system / french drain arrangement in the back garden to try to drain the soggy mess that is the lawn there. So far its not going to well. We may have to throw in the towel and throw some concrete groundings and a deck there.

Working: In Newfoundland this week, thankfully the weathers turned around here.

Riding: Chloes been a lot, three days each week at the barn and loving it. Shes a chip off the old block. I have rather fallen for a really nice horse called Ace who we could both ride and I just enjoyed a great dressage clinic on him.

Wanting: To be at home, I like NL but theres no place like home. I miss my children, my husband, the pillows on my bed, my coffee in the morning .......(I could go on but I will quit now)

Wearing: Banana Repulic outlet mall bargains. I love that I can shop there now anytime I damn well like and dont have to wait for my annual trip (if I was lucky) to the States.

Leaving behind: negativity - that includes ignoring aggravating facebook and internet posts and no longer wasting my thoughts on those that dont deserve them.

Loving: the weather in NS. Even the rain, the noise is theraputic and its warm rain so apart from the drainage issue in the back garden, its welcome.

Planning: the next trip down South

Wishing for: another bathroom upstairs. Given that our youngest routinely throws anyone whos in the bathroom out, getting some bathroom time is starting to become a challenge.