WHY

    Today is Saturday. We had morning appointments so arrived home just before 5:00 on Tuesday.  Another taste of our country life awaited us.  We knew the wind had been blowing ferociously so we were mentally prepared.  We had to walk in most of the way and once we got there the battery was dead on the Bobcat!  Why? It had never given us any trouble before.  Thankfully Bruce had a battery in the shop.  Pat had to drive over and get it, come back to our road, unload the car to get the booster cables out of the bottom of the car, load the battery and the booster cables onto the toboggan, bring them into the garage,  boost the Bobcat and then clear the road enough to bring the car in.  We unloaded the car in the dark ending a long day that had been preceded by a night that did not involve a lot of sleep. 
We bought a new battery for the Bobcat Thursday and are thinking about getting some sort of portable battery booster.  At the very least we will get another set of booster cables.  Adjustments and learning continue.

    We had a few reasons to be in Saskatoon this time, work for Pat, Slow Book Club, but the primary reason was Zachary and Heather had a ski trip planned and we were there to look after the girls.  It created a flood of memories. Foremost that groggy thick headedness that comes from a mostly sleepless night. Brooke slept quite well, we put her to bed at 8:00 and didn't hear from her until 7:30 or so.  Norah was another story, she was not feeling well so she was awake a lot!  Pat was working so I was the one who was up every hour or so.  I survived and do not yet have the cold and cough she had which is amazing to me.  
The second is 4 year olds and their need to constantly question why.  I was thankful for having read a book called The Power of Why this summer.  It discussed how important "why" is and how unfortunate it is that so many of us quit asking "why".  So even though it was the 49th time I had answered to "why" I would take a calming breathe and respond.  At times I would respond with "why do you think?", and it was interesting sometimes she would think for a moment and then have an answer other times not.
One of the first times we were back in Saskatoon I had a number of places to go, Brooke came along and so did Edna.  It is quite funny because now if Brooke and I are going anywhere her first comment is, "we should pick up Edna!".
We did pick up Edna on Thursday and I learned that with two children two adults are important. 
Carmen and I took them to an installation of sock monkeys at the Mendal, but they are too young and spent very little time with the exhibit. We had a "treat" and went through the conservatory instead. From the little I saw it looks quite interesting and I plan to go back when we are in Saskatoon later this month. 
I learned how important carts are and that you really don't want to be in a retail environment that doesn't have carts.  
It also left me wondering what I did when my kids were small, especially in the winter.  I think we stayed home.
Brooke was quite interested in my knitting this trip so I took advantage of " get them while they're young" and they both took turns holding the needles and we knit.

It is a grey day today, a good day to be inside with a fire.  Pat is working on the baseboards in my studio. I will take and post some pictures when the room is put back together.  I don't think I have posted any since I set everything up.  When he is done there all that is left is the living room and dining room and we are planning to install flooring first which hasn't even been ordered.  Next stop kitchen counters.