Natural Lessons

Nature has been providing us with many free science lessons.
We've observed deer and chipmunks, and toads and all kinds of new insects-although we'd rather forget the giant hairy spider.
No curriculum needed here-We're too busy counting rocks and writing letters in the sand. Exploring new trails and swimming in the lake. All those wonderful things that children need to make their mind and body grow!

The People You Meet

We had another wonderful encounter today.
As we were taking Boulder for a walk we just happened to be passing by the beach parking lot. Savanna, as usual had to greet a woman standing next to her car. She mentioned that her five year old was sleeping inside and that she would probably love to play with Savanna.
We raced against the darkening sky back to the trailer to change. When we returned to the beach Savanna eagerly spotted her and went to see if her daughter could play. While she was off with her new friend I chatted to the mother and grandmother. I learned that the mother was home for a visit from Whitehorse. This is certainly the place to meet world travelers, as army personnel tend to move quite frequently with their postings. (Last week we met a family who had spent three years in Russia.)
I found it very interesting to learn that they do not have thunderstorms in the Yukon. Unfortunately, our visit was cut short by the weather but I know Savanna was happy to have a playmate for a while.
I was pleased to hear them comment on how friendly and outgoing Savanna was. I wish for the life of me I could remember what it was that Savanna said that was so remarkable but I know I was taken aback that she would know that at her age. It must be all that Bill Nye The Science Guy!
I find it amusing that the Bill Nye DVD's are labeled for grades four and up. Savanna loves them and I'm sure that there are other kids younger than nine or ten that would too. If you look at the educational trends, much of the way things that are taught today are watered down compared to the way they used to be. Take for instance, the fact that Shakespeare used to be taught to elementary school students. If you look at some of the text books from the early part of the 20th century, you will find that the materials taught in the lower grade levels have been shifted to a significantly later grade.
If you would like to know more about this I highly recommend the works of John Taylor Gatto and John Holt. I'm currently reading John Holt's, 'How Children Fail'. I also love his, 'Teach Your Own' and 'Learning All The Time'.

Oops!

Our travels continue...
I goofed a little in planning our latest road trip. When we were living in Sturgeon Falls we were able to head north and cross into Quebec, drive down following the river and loop back into Ontario. Without consulting a map first, I thought that we could do the same thing here. Go north to Deep River, cross into Quebec, drive down and cross back over at Pembroke. I turned out to be a little off. First of all, the crossing was not in Deep River, it was north in the ghost town of Rolphton and, second of all, it led to an island. Once you were on the island the only way off was either back the way you came or to go north up a logging road you had to register to use. Oops! It wasn't all a lost cause though, the view from the dock was amazing, with huge forested hills rising up on both sides. Talk about tranquil.
On our way back through we stopped at Laurentian View Diary where I attempted to consume the largest hot dog I've ever seen. (Yes, I know I just talked about eating healthy.) I still have some of it in the fridge and I think I have now gone off hot dogs.
After supper today we followed some trails we hadn't previously explored. Lo and behold, one ran to the marina one road over. When we got to the end we noticed a sign stating that they were cross country ski trails. I must say they have an excellent system of recreational trails here. At the end of the remote campsites we found a beautiful mostly private spot where we let Boulder off to see if he would explore the water a little more. He did go in several times but never deep enough that he would have to swim. It seems that he still prefers the mucky crick back home to fresh lake water.

It's the Weekend!

The last two days have been amazing-and busy!
Yesterday evening we headed to the local library. Now this might not sound like anything much to you but to Savanna and I it is gold. What a beautiful library! Savanna had fun playing puppet theatre with some boys about her age and then she went over the park and made another friend. I guess it's not surprising considering she says hi to everyone who walks by our campsite.
She has also has developed a taste for Bill Nye the science guy. I was happy to see the library had a fairly good collection of DVD's so I can save some data on my phone.
We have to keep a constant supply of books for her. Every morning that's the first thing she goes to. It's a great way for Mommy and Daddy to get a little more rest!
Today is the start of Wayne's three day weekends so we took off on a little road trip. There looks to be a lot to see up here and we only have so many weekends so we have to make the most of them.
Ever since he first brought home the Renfrew County visitors guide I've been itching to go to a place called Bert's Crepes. It was the cutest little place, complete with a tiny white patio on the lake. The crepes were delicious but I guess I forgot that true crepes, unlike the ones we had in school during carnival, don't have ice cream. Oh well, it was still worth it for the drive.
After our supper, (slow cooker meals are awesome for weekends) we took off for a marathon bike ride. It was a challenge for someone who's used to totally flat land but it was totally worth it. I can't tell you how many miles we covered but it was a substantial amount. I am definitely looking forward to doing it again and getting into better shape.

The Perfect Day

We've been trying to get back into a healthier lifestyle since we got here. Not that our eating habits were bad to begin with, we just wanted to incorporate a few more servings of fruits and veggies. Wayne's vice is pop, namely Coke or Diet Pepsi. It's something we didn't even keep in the house but if we were visiting he would drink it. My vice is carbs, I love bread, crackers, rice cakes, you name it. The pop here at the Canex is astronomically priced and I wonder if that is a way of discouraging people. After all, you want to have a fit military.
The almost completely outdoor lifestyle has also done wonders for my insomnia. I haven't had a single night's trouble since we got here. I thought I was getting enough fresh air at home but apparently not! I guess you can also take into account walking the dog twice daily (at home he's mostly free range), visits to the beach, even waking to the washrooms and showers.
So where does the perfect day come in, you ask? Well today our toddler did not scream, cry or whine and that to me, is a perfect day. I think it has been good for her to be away from grandma and grandpa and all the spoiling that can't be helped when you live next to family. So as a reward to her (and myself), we did all the things we've been wanting to do. We went to the beach, we had a frozen treat and we walked into town to visit the playground.
Well, more like I walked and she rode in her Wike, a combination bicycle trailer and stroller-Canadian made in Guelph, I might add. Why am I pushing her? Well anyone who has raised a toddler knows that when they don't want to walk anymore it's you that is going to end up either trying to drag them along or carry them so I just hedged by bet there. I really didn't know how long it would take but it turned out to be only a short 15 minute walk. The steep hill was my main challenge but I felt like a million bucks-once I caught my breath.
It has been quite an adjustment for me, not having a vehicle. I can't walk everywhere but at least going up to the base gives me a bit more of a sense of freedom. Maybe one of these days I'll treat myself to a frozen lemonade at Tim Horton's.
We had a wonderful day and I hope tomorrow will be more of the same.

Scenery

A few nights ago we took Boulder to the dog beach. Now this was strategically planned as it had just rained and I was actually hoping there wouldn't be anyone (or any canine) there. My hunch turned out to be correct and while Boulder is still not much for big bodies of water-my husband calls him a defective lab-I saw many photo opportunities just waiting to be seized. There were the distant hills of Quebec, hazy in the distance, that would make a perfect black and white, the ripple of the sand where the creek met the lake, the wildflowers growing between roots on the beach. It made me kick myself for not bringing my camera.
Today I got the chance to go back. Savanna, the social butterfly that she is, (please don't tell me homeschooled kids aren't socialized because that will only make me laugh) has made friends already and as a result we were invited to go to the dog beach this afternoon. While the kids and parents were occupied I took the opportunity to sneak away and take some photos. Unfortunately, I can't share them as I do not have a computer here but I can share the ones I took using my iPhone. (All of the pictures on this blog so far have been taken with my iPhone4 and although I have yet to have any printed, I'am very pleased with their quality.)
I might mention that some of you may question my classifying my daughter as homeschooled being as she just turned four but I would like to point out that as parents we have all educated our young children in the ways of the world. We just don't happen to give ourselves enough credit for what we do.
And so I will leave you with a few pictures... (I'll tell you one of my blogging secrets-I start by looking at the photos I have taken that day and work backwards to find the inspiration for my writing.)

A Little Bit of Everything

Today I feel like we are finally settling in. We know our way around town a bit more, we've scoped out the conveniences like grocery stores and Mac's Milk and we've seen how many days of groceries we can actually fit in the trailer. It's all coming back to me now. There's a bit of a rhythm to it but it can be done. Three people-two hundred square feet.
Yesterday morning we had an unexpected guest and today we had two. Yesterday in the early hours of the morning we heard Boulder growl and then bark at something. He is normally very quiet so my husband popped his head out to see what was going on and saw a black bear walking down the middle of the camp road. I really didn't believe him at first-he often likes to see if he can pull one over in me. Today I was inside the trailer when Savanna came knocking and said, "Come look. There's a cute puppy outside!" I didn't move too quickly thinking it was just someone walking their dog by but by the time I got out there was another dog settled under our trailer. I was very surprised because Boulder is not normally a fan of other dogs but he seemed to like this one just fine. We took a look at the tags and called the phone number on the but got no answer. After no one came looking we headed toward the dog beach thinking maybe he had come from there. Sure enough, Rusty's owner was there and glad to see him. Our second visitor was a decidedly unwelcome one. We were just about to load Savanna's bike trailer up when she said,"Spider!" I turned to look expecting a regular old garden variety spider but instead saw a giant tennis ball size, grey striped, hairy spider. Wayne crushed it before I had a chance to take a picture but I don't think I'm going to forget what it looked like anytime soon. I recall joking last night about a spider's big brother coming to get Wayne after he crushed a regular sized spider last night. I don't want to know who this spiders big brother is!
We returned to Petawawa Provincial Park today. It's actually nothing like the provincial parks we've seen before. There are no camping or comfort facilities, it's really just a series of trails through the woods. I thought we would our bikes down a paved area which, according to the map ended at the waterfront. In reality it turned into a downhill sprint in which I tried to keep the contents of my bicycle basket from flying away, smashing my thumb in the process, and then meandered into a turkey trail infested by deer flies. Needless to say, we quickly beat it back up the hill. The dirt trails were actually better but the heat was oppressive amongst all those trees.
We hit a grocery store for a few items that we either couldn't find or were too overpriced at the Canex store. At first we weren't even sure we could shop at the Canex since it was on the base but after asking around we were told you did not have to be military. The Canex is nice because the profits go directly back into the military.
I really thought we had bought more than I could fit in but I made it work. We really lack in cupboard space here so I have taken part of the space under the entertainment unit for a dry goods pantry and the things I really don't want Savanna getting into I store in the overhead cupboard. So many things to consider when we get our next trailer.
There has been some much needed rain here in the last few hours. It has been so dry up here they are under a fire ban. Even the golf course is dry and brown. Of course, it had to storm at just the time Wayne was barbecuing.
What can you do?

Savanna's Fourth Birthday

I just remembered today that Savanna has celebrated two of her birthdays while living in the trailer. Her first, celebrated in Sturgeon Falls and her fourth, here in Petawawa.
She is a lucky girl getting to travel as much as she has. That's is one of the wonderful things about homeschooling, being able to take off at any time of the year and not being tied down to a school schedule. She has been able to learn in so many different places. We have sure had some adventures in the last four years!
She passed so many of her milestones in Sturgeon Falls, standing on her own, her first tooth, taking her first steps. I remember walking in the fall while she stopped in the lane way to pick up what seemed like every single leaf.
This year we decided to take her picking at a local blueberry farm (think Park's Blueberry's only further north). All she wanted to do was ride the wagon around the fields-thats our farm girl! We did finally convince her to take in some of the other sites there like the giant sandbox and petting zoo.
Supper was her choice, she chose pizza-I guess what kid wouldn't? It was some of the best pizza I have had and we were able to see it being baked in the ovens while we waited. We took a walk through Petawawa Provincial Park to work off our supper and I can't wait to go back. It was so peaceful and very photogenic!
She had such a busy day she ended up forgetting all about her presents-I guess she'll have a surprise tomorrow!

Patriotism

I have to admit that although I was always proud to be a Canadian I never gave it that much thought.
When I was young I remember my parents flying the maple leaf in our yard. For some reason that flag pole was taken down-I think I actually noticed it up in the barn rafters one day. Our neighbors also had a flag but once it got tattered it was never replaced. I've come to see now that that's a shame.
Just go to any NASCAR race and see how patriotic those American fans are. I realize that we Canadians are a little less outspoken but I do think we could learn something from them.
Once you travel north you tend to realize just how Americanized southern Ontario is. We get American television stations, we cross boarder shop, we eat their meat and produce. Now I'm not suggesting that all of that is necessarily a bad thing but things are definitely different here. In the stores you will find quite a bit more merchandise made in Canada, chances are most of your meat and produce are local and the dairy products are local and not from a large scale factory. It has been refreshing to see.
On top of this, living on an Army base, you better be darn sure you're patriotic. Canadian flags are a must.
I will say that seeing our men and women in uniform on a daily basis has helped me to put a face to our military. Everyday, I see their families, I have visited their memorial park and thought about their great sacrifice-all this has truly given me a new appreciation for those who serve.

Adjustments

I love the smell of this place-the air seems so crisp and clean. There's a wonderful pine scent mingled with something sweet that I can't quite place.
I know Savanna is still having trouble getting adjusted and so am I. My usual neat and tidy self is balking at the clutter of work clothes, electrical tape, keys, safety glasses and other things that seem to never find a proper home on my tiny counter. The upper bunk is full of clothes, toys and books in various baskets-God forbid we ever try and have another child-where would we put the poor thing? Obviously, trailers were not meant for long term living! I guess I should remind myself that we've done it all before and it will all fall in to place eventually.
I really do love the adventure of it all though, seeing new places, living simply, making do with those things you can fit in, and leaving the rest behind.

Getting There

To say the last three days were busy would be an understatement!
Saturday we had an early birthday celebration for my daughter. It would have been relaxing had it not been for the thought of the eight hour drive the next morning. We still had a good time though, splashing around in the bay and Savanna got spoiled as usual.
The next day started at a quarter after seven, not early by some standards, but early by mine. Savanna thankfully, was wonderful on the what turned out to be a nine hour drive. She kept busy between books, DVD's and a toy pony. Wayne and I tried to point out the sights but all she would say was, "Can I read my book now?" By evening things were getting a little edgy but we were all thoroughly exhausted.
Yesterday I tried to adjust to the fact that it was just me, Savanna and the dog in this strange place while my husband went off for his first day at a new job. I was happy to see that everyone appears to be very friendly and there seems to be a fair amount of children around for Savanna to play with. If I could just get used to all the helicopters flying overhead and blasting noises in the distance I'll be good.
Having never been on a military base before its all new to me. Its actually a huge community, they even have their own Tim Hortons! There's recreational complexes, playgrounds, stores, subdivisions-everything a regular city would have. I can't wait to be able to check it all out. Living here does make me a little nervous though, and I have visions of being hauled off to the barracks for driving down the wrong road.
Last night was still so busy though. We went out to eat as we hadn't gotten groceries yet and then we had to do our shopping, put it all away and make phone calls home to relatives anxious to see how we were settling in.
Today life is settling in a bit more-I don't feel as exhausted and overwhelmed and I'm starting to feel a bit more like at home. I've got a roast in the crock pot, the trailer is getting in order, the birds are singing and the shade is lovely.

Rib Fest

The smell of smoky barbecue wafted towards us as we walked down the street. This was the first time we had taken in the deliciousness that is Rib Fest. The food was amazing and there was lots of fun for the kids. It looked to me like there was a good turn out despite the heat. There is a Rib Fest in August near Petawawa so maybe we will get to that one too.
I can't imagine how the cooks must have felt! I was sweating just standing there and I know I was bordering on heat stroke. I definitely over did it today!
This morning I had been trying desperately to get the garden weeded. The temperature was over 40 degrees with the humidex and there wasn't a breeze in sight. Plus, yesterday's rain had turned the soil to mud making my job even tougher. I should have quit sooner but being the perfectionist I'am I was desperate to get it finished before we leave. The heat has just been so bad and the only slightly cooler evenings too busy. In the end I only got half way but I will try to finish tomorrow.
Many thanks to my mother in law for agreeing to look after it while we are away. I just couldn't bear the thought of all that hard work going to waste.

Living on a Small Scale

I feel like I'm in the never ending wash cycle. How much laundry can three people have? Apparently a lot. We're a family that relies on the sun to dry our clothes so add in two rainy days and you've got yourself a backlog.
The next topic-how am I going to fit three lives into a trailer for four months? The trick is to get really good at organizing. By now we should be pros at small space living. Oddly, we both grew up in quite normal sized homes but since we left home we've lived in 400 square feet, 800 square feet and the 200 square feet of the trailer. Somedays I think I should be employed by IKEA.
Right now I'm looking for something to put in the upper bunk for S's clothes. I have a little three drawer organizer that fits perfectly in the space between the bunks and the bathroom door but now that her clothes are bigger I'm going to have to re-purpose it. I'm thinking socks, underwear and extra bunk sheets.
I do think I'm starting to over think things at this stage though. As long as I've got the kid, the dog and the husband I should be okay right?
At least I've been so worn out I haven't had any problems falling asleep at night!

Hard At Work

With only three days left before we go things are getting down to the wire. I'm sure we will forget something but that's par for the course.
We finally got our campsite arranged this afternoon which comes as a relief. I had to play some phone tag but in the end we got connected. There wasn't many pictures to go by and a limited number of campgrounds to choose from so we shall have to see what we get. Still, its less stressful than in 2009, when we spent the summer in Sturgeon Falls, I had a week to buy a trailer and get a lot to put it on.
My husband is hoping to be able to bike to work so we'll be testing Mapquests accuracy when we get there. My poor car is getting old so if we can get away without it it would extend its life a bit.
Today I managed to get things arranged to fit in the new vacuum, accommodate all the appliances under the dinette bench, go through the kitchen items, pack the work clothes and a good portion of all our other clothes, fabricate a child safety lock for the gas stove and sweat my butt off doing all of it.
I've got to say these hot temperatures are not helping us get things done. I still need to weed the garden again but it's too wet, I need to find time to mail a purse to a customer, get an organizer to fit the upper bunk, sort both refrigerators-I'd better stop before I get myself all worked up. Oh well, tomorrow's another day and I just keep telling myself I'll get there.

Movie "Magic"

So I finally did it-I finally broke down and went. My mother practically forced me to see Magic Mike with her before we leave.
I held out as long as I could ladies but I think I was the last person on Facebook who hadn't seen it and you know what? It actually wasn't bad! I mean it had a plot! I was shocked-I thought it was just going to be an excuse for gratuitous nudity. I'm sure many women wouldn't have minded that either but it was surprisingly a decent movie. They just knew when to quit and leave it to the imagination.
I have to say though that the lack of maturity in the theatre by some mature (at least in age) women was surprising. At some points I couldn't tell if the screaming was coming from the movie or the theatre. Additional comedic relief was provided by the lady who's cell phone kept ringing and made it very clear that she was not leaving the movie to go to work. I only hope she wasn't a doctor!
I wonder if there will be an increase in the birth rate nine months from now? If its a boy I hope they name it Mike.

Whew!

Just whew! That's all I can say. Not only is it incredibly hot but I'am also incredibly overwhelmed with the thought of all the things I need to do in such a short time.
Before I get into that I will mention that I took a little break today to take my grandmother to a movie that's she's been wanting to see, Rock of Ages. Why would an 88 year old woman want to see this? She says it's because she likes Julianne Hough from Dancing With the Stars, I say it's because she wants to see Tom Cruise shirtless. While she's a very liberal lady I still found it awkward sitting next to her watching strippers, sex and Tom Cruise in ass less chaps. I'm not a fan of 80's hair bands and while it did have its moments, I was glad to be away from the blaring music that was so loud it gave me a headache.
And now I have too...pack clothes for three while guessing what the weather will be, make sure we have things that we can't readily get there like extra contacts and glasses, clean out the cupboards and fridge here and decide what to take, drain the pool, weed the garden, return all the library books, make extra space in the trailer for work clothes, find a spot for the crock pot, buy a more suitable vacuum and the list goes on...
All this and five days to do it plus go to soccer, get groceries, have a birthday party and get to Ribfest.
Wish me luck!

Adventure Awaits

There is so much to do this week! It looks like we will be able to avoid the construction after, all and will be traveling eight hours north to stay for the rest of the summer in our home on wheels.
My husband is a union electrician, a good job but, like any trade it is dependent on construction. In the early spring work started slowing down and we knew it was only a matter of time before things got worse.
Sure enough, in early June he was down to three days a week, then two and then one.
There is always work available through the union but sometimes you have to travel.
We aren't new to this however. Three years ago, with an infant daughter, we took the plunge into trailer ownership and headed to North Bay for five and a half months. It turned out to be the best summer of our lives! We lived on the lake and spent our summer exploring new territory.
This year I will be sad to leave my family but I know there will be trips home and the lure of traveling is calling again.
For now there is garden tending to be arranged, a pool to be drained, a trailer with supplies for three to be packed and an early birthday celebration for Little Miss S to take place. I am exhausted just thinking about it but I know it will all be worth it.