Write 31 Days - Cut

I have a scar on my left knee from a childhood cut.

I was a tough kid who played hard, so cuts and scrapes weren't unusual. But for some reason I remember getting this particular cut.

I was about 6 years old.
We were visiting friends in a smaller town about an hour away.

All the kids were playing outside on the pleasant summer's day.
Our friends, my siblings, other neighbourhood kids.

And there was a wagon involved.

I think we were riding in the wagon, down a hill, quite fast.

Something happened, maybe we hit a bump, maybe that little wagon was just not meant to be ridden downhill by two or three kids at that speed.

We tumbled out of the wagon and my knee hit the gravelly pavement, hard.

There was blood, and skin and though I was tough, there were a few tears.

My mom, in her calming way, dried my tears and took me inside to clean me up.

For some reason this is the first time I remember the feeling of hydrogen peroxide being poured onto a wound. Being the rough kid that I was I'm sure it had been administered before that moment, but this was an instance I clearly remembered.

That dark brown bottle tipped up and for a moment the pain was searingly worse. Then the liquid frothed and bubbled on the oval open wound on my knee. Like a an injured cub I cried out, not understanding that this additional pain would be worth it, would help my wound and start the process of healing.

The sharpness of the treatment stung badly but my mom's gentle cool hands patted and bandaged and sent me back outside to play.

I'm sure we played some more and I'm sure I was into more mischief by the end of that day.

I even managed to make everyone laugh when we were leaving, slapping a neighbourhood boy on the back and proclaiming, "Well, s'long Jeremy!" (A memorable moment that has become a family saying ever since.)


Now, as an adult with a few more scars and bumps along the way, I notice that half-inch line of a scar on my knee once in a while.

I remember that even when we are wounded, the pain doesn't last forever.
Though sharp and difficult to ignore, pain fades.

We can heal, we can be patched up, and sent back out to play.

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This has been a writing prompt post from #Write31Days, join in the fun. 

Catch up on all my 31Days + 5MinFriday posts by clicking here. 

Write 31 Days - Little

Little me in the centre.

((I'm a "little" behind on my #Write31Days, but I'll catch up.))


I remember being little.

I remember the feeling of being the youngest, the only one of my siblings not yet in school.
I remember my mom and I going to the wading pool and having to make friends with the other little kids who were there on their own with their mothers.

I remember my dad teaching me how to spell my name on my Lite-Brite one evening, after he had come home from a long day working on the farm.

I remember getting up so early that it was dark outside to watch morning cartoons with my brother and sister—the bright, flashing lights reflecting off of our enraptured faces. Spider-man was the best!

I remember the feeling of success after learning how to tie my shoes.
I remember kids camps and family camps and day camps.
I remember taking the bus to school and feeling so small in those big green seats, my feet dangling, my face barely high enough to see out the window.

I remember the fear then thrill of learning how to swing super high then launch myself off the swing, feeling like a super hero.

I remember learning how to tell time on a clock.

I remember Pet Day in Grade One, where several hundred kids brought their cats and dogs to school for a "Pet Parade" in the gym. I remember how my farm cat, Cuddles, whom I'd probably never actually cuddled before, freaked out and had to stay in the van.

I remember playing so hard that I'd always rip my shirt, or dress or somehow get grease on pants.

I remember being bold and asking lots of questions but learning how to feel the tension enough to know when not to ask them.

I remember making our own bows and arrows at the lake.
I remember stories from my grandfather on road trips or in their backyard in the old army tent.

I remember getting in trouble, a lot. I remember it was almost always an accident or not my fault.
I remember adults getting angry at me but others standing up for me, because I was a good kid at heart.

I remember being little, small, young, the youngest, yet confident, sure of myself, blunt.

I remember that little girl.

I'm trying to make sure some of that confident little girl stays with me, always. 

---

This has been a writing prompt post from #Write31Days, join in the fun. 

Catch up on all my 31Days + 5MinFriday posts by clicking here. 

Scenic Sundays: Terrace BC

((A quick look at some of my favourite scenic photos I've taken.

All of these shots remain untouched and unaltered.))

One of my favourite childhood destinations was always Terrace, BC. My mom was born and raised in this Northern city and we spent many summers at my Grandparent's home and at the local lake. The mountain scenery is spectacular!

This year I visited Terrace in April with my mom and aunts after my lovely grandmother passed away. We drove from Smithers to Terrace and visited Lakelse Lake, a place holding so many memories for myself as well as my mom and aunts.

We always took over this entire shelter whenever we came out to the lake. There were usually 20-30 of us (cousins, aunts, uncles etc) and we enjoyed many hot dog roasts, card games and Uno cakes here.

There is just layer upon layer of gorgeous mountains as far as you can see!

The canopy of huge cedar trees overhead.

It's difficult to see the massive scale of these roots and trees. Look for me in a photo below for some perspective.

We often played in and amongst these huge roots. Many photos were taken of us as children climbing up them.

See, they are huge!!!
I love Terrace and Lakelse Lake! One of my favourite places!

Here we are, me at about age 7-8, playing in Lakelse Lake.

Click HERE to see more of my Scenic Sunday posts.

Sorting Out My Randomness (+ Freebies!)

Totally random photo of me & a moose.

All my life I've been a bit scattered, random, unorganized.

Whether it was playing with toys as a child, with stuffed animals, My Little Ponies and Barbies strew all over my room as I moved from one game or puzzle or idea to the next, or as teen in school, I always had homework mixed with reading books for fun and side projects always on the go.

I've even often seen myself as a "starter" and never a great "finisher" since I always seems to love new ideas and jump around from project to project.

Even my exciting new craft room in my new house has been full of my supplies and containers for a whole year with no sense of organization or coherence.
One day I will get to it and sort it all out. For now, I dig for what I need and dream of a pretty, sorted, clean and put-together craft room where I can instantly find anything I need.

However, I am trying to be more organized.

In the past year I have started and finished (or continued) a few of my dreams...

1} To make and sell my own jewelry at a summer market (read all about it here) 

2} I have been a bit more consistent with updating this blog.

Starting this month I am creating a schedule for myself so I can keep myself organized and on task with my goals for giving you fun and interesting blog posts.

This schedule is being assisted by a freebie my good friend Laura offered to me. She makes herself pretty monthly blank calendars for her own blog scheduling and gives them away to whomever would like one.
This month, I prompted her to post it to her blog as a free printable and she did!
So here you go, a free July calendar printable for you to use for whatever.

If you are a sleuth, you'll notice I've already missed one!

3} I also wanted to have some goals for this summer for fun activities and plans that would push me a little further passed my comfortable stay-at-home-or-only-around-the-same-people-I-know zone.

I found this wonderful "How To Summer" list printable and started filling it out with fun ideas and plans I could do this summer.

Easy instructions on how to make a gif like this.

You may notice there are a few ideas on my summer list that would involve a groups such as BBQs, Bocce, Hikes etc. Maybe you can join in!!

Hopefully these tools will help me be less scattered and more organized.
There is always room for self-improvement and I know being organized will help me finish my personal goals and move on to new, exciting plans!


Today's Question: What are some of your summer plans?

5 Random Facts About Me

It's time for some confessions....

I got this idea from a blog I read called "Love Stitched" by Brittany.

Here are 5 Random Facts About Me:

1. I love my Dad's grilled cheese sandwiches! He makes THE BEST grilled cheese! Perhaps it has something to do with the amount of butter he slaps on both sides and the inside, too!! Yummers!

Five Minute Friday: Grit



 Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery at how much creativity is crammed in our heads and even if we just unlock if for five minutes it can paint the world in dazzling wonder.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. (that means if I spell something wrong, or use the wrong word, too late! let it go! don't feel you need to correct me.)
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & leave an encouraging comment.

On Fridays we just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. It’s such a relief, I promise. OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:
::

Grit

February Photo-A-Day: Little Me!

 "A Fave Photo of You"
- I love this photo of me.
I was proably about 5 or 6.

We lived on a farm just north of Calgary where you could just barely see the city on the horizon. (Now that whole area is covered in homes and development!)

Behind me is one of our horses and the rest is the pretty, rolling hills.

I must have just lost a tooth around that day and my mom is taking a photo to capture the moment.

I also love my afro! No, I do NOT have curly hair (I wish!) but had many home perms as a child to keep my thick hair cute and manageable. (PS - one of my brother's nicknames for me back then was "Little Orphan Annie".)

This photo brings back so many memories, smells, sights and feelings.
Love it!

Time is...

"Time is

Too Slow for those who Wait,

Too Swift for those who Fear,

Too Long for those who Grieve,

Too Short for those who Rejoice;

But for those who Love,

Time is not.

~ Henry Van Dyke

Time.

When I was young it seemed like I had so much time, yet everything took way too long. Waiting for Jr High, then High School, the wait until I could drive, Graduation...

Then something happened in those years from High School Graduation and the beginning of University...I realized that I missed my younger years already. I missed being a child and having little to no responsibilities, I missed feeling free and unburdened. Not to say that my childhood was perfect in any sense, I mean, it was good and fun, but I had my trials as most children do. If I had to go back and live through my childhood again, knowing what I know now, you can believe that I would stand up to certain bullies, work harder at certain subjects, and never, ever miss an opportunity to have fun!

This feeling of missing my younger years began to shape my personality in my twenties. I wasn't ready to let go and put away childish things. I clung to the fun, the bright, and took chances to keep myself from getting bored or boring. In some ways those years of shaping still linger in me today.

Favourite Childhood Toys?

Earlier today I had another oh-so-lovely-trip to my dentist's office for a few fixer-uppers and as I was laying there, staring at the white ceiling I tried to take my thoughts off the grinding noises and somewhere to a place full of fond memories and fluffy, light images.
What did I see in that half an hour of tension-filled prostration?
I found myself recalling my childhood days and some of my most favourite toys to play with.

Here are a few examples of my old friends:

My Little Pony - The BEST little girl's toy ever! I still have all of mine stored away for future use either when I have kids or for some really boring rainy day. :) I loved the Sea Ponies for bath time and the baby twin ponies, too!


Barbie - I had a few and the best part was dressing them up, doing their hair and setting up their house and whatever situation we were playing that day. By the time I was done setting up, playtime was usually over. (Thanks for the reminders and memories E!) Tropical Island Miko was my fav, I think it was her really long black hair and cool one shoulder swimsuit.



Cars - HotWheels & MicoMachines!!!! - Sooo much fun! Did you ever have the race tracks that you could put together and loop-de-loop? We did, but I think the racetracks got more use above the fridge..... (wink, wink, nudge, nudge!!) MicroMachines were awesome! And I always wanted more! It was always a bonus to get a helicopter or boat with a set of cars. Oh and the Micro Machines video games was so sweet, too!

Transformers - Though I think I only ever had one real Transformer, I also had one or two Go-bots - all were played with until they almost stopped being able to transform! The TV show rocked, too!!!! I always thought Bumblebee would have made a good buddy in real life.

Pound Puppies - yes, I have always been a dog lover and these cute stuffed animals were just my cup o' tea! I had one big one and one small one and always watched the Cartoon!



Cabbage Patch Kid - The craze for these round-faced dolls hit when I was about 5 and My mom battled the stores and first found me a lovely light brown haired gal, but after our puppy, Buffy, got a hold of her and chewed her face off (maybe that's why I don't like horror movies??) she found me another dark-haired CPK girl named, Teresa and she even held a crayon in her left had!!! How cool!! I collected tons of clothes, even had some handmade ones given to me. I still have her and her wardrobe packed away somewhere.

Another favourite toy-like item was all my 'book and tape' sets - I had a plethora of Cabbage Patch Kid stories, some Disney (Fox and the Hound!), some Bible stories (Blister the Lamb and Gregory Grub!!) etc etc. I loved these and wish I had held on to them.

Ahhhh, the good old days! I am SURE I will think of many more favourites as the week progresses.
But please, leave me a comment and tell me what YOUR favourite childhood toys were!!