A funny thing happened to me on the way home from Oakville Monday.
(said with a cigar hanging out the side of my mouth....hahaha...
only you older people will get that one!)

My girlfriend Lynne & I were travelling westbound in the fastlane of Hwy 403
to Hamilton when to my surprise and I've gotta tell you..shock factor here...
we saw a giant BOOB travelling in the same direction.

We were laughing so hard and I'm scrambling to get my iphone out of
my purse so Lynne can snap some photos of this, all while driving in the fastlane
don't forget!  We're super nuts yelling "What is that?,  Is that a boob on top?,
What else could it be?,   How do I work this thingy?  Just get some good shots!"
And so it begins....I'm speeding up and slowing down and speeding up, trying to keep pace with the truck so Lynne can get a good picture, and totally ticking off the
drivers behind me, I'm sure....although who knows?  Maybe they were
groping around for their iphones too?  We finally got right beside it.....

That's when we realized it was no joke!
But, then we're throwing out ideas to each other which were, of course,
completely out in left field.  I'm thinking, "Are there women in there lined up on
side benches, waiting for their turns to breastfeed?  Do they transport breast milk?  Do they go to new mother's homes and teach them how to breastfeed?"

After researching on the internet...it's none of the above, especially the women lined
up on side benches inside, being held hostage obviously in my scenario!  lol!
You'd think it wouldn't take long for an OPP officer to pull them over and ask that
the back gate be pulled up to see what's inside?

Anyway, back to the internet....
Apparently, this is a mobile unit started in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a woman named
Jill Miller to raise awareness about breast feeding and so it's part performance art
 and part a public service.  Here's an excerpt from the website devoted to
The Milk Truck.

Quote:
The Milk Truck 
@ The 2011 Pittsburgh Biennial at the Andy Warhol Museum
September 17 - December 10, 2011

Part performance art, part public service. 

Yes, we will buy an ice cream truck and attach a giant boob to the top! Yes, we will become superhero-like in our vigilant support of nursing mothers! And yes, we take our mission very seriously. But we know (from being mothers, perhaps) that words are most effective when accompanied by a friendly smile and a wink. Mary Poppins had it right: a spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down. So we are using The Milk Truck to start a conversation in our community about a basic human right: feeding a baby. (With sugar on top, of course.)

We're tired of hearing stories about women being asked to leave restaurants or "cover up" with a blanket while doing something as simple as feeding a baby. But we're not the type to complain; we're the type to take action. Which leads us to...The Milk Truck.

When a woman finds herself in a situation where she is discouraged, harassed, or unwelcome to breastfeed her baby in public, she summons The Milk Truck. The truck arrives to the location of the woman in need and provides her with a shelter for feeding her baby. The woman feeds her child, the shopkeeper who harassed her feels like a dweeb, and the truck does what it does best - creates a spectacle. (Which is, incidently, the very thing that the shopkeeper thought he was trying to avoid. Alas, some people have to learn the hard way.)

Interesting eh?
The Milk Truck is in the Toronto area this month, travelling to different
areas of the city to raise awareness about breastfeeding.
Although I'm too old to want to be a mommy again, and too shy to have ever
breastfed in public, I certainly have nothing against women breastfeeding in public and
don't think they should feel embarassed by this natural part of life.

That said, another strange thing happened recently in this regard when I went with
Robynn & our new grandchild, Logan, on the day of his circumcision to the
little doctor's office in Dundas.
There were four babies waiting to be circumcised and when the first girl had gone
in and returned with her baby, she promptly began to breastfeed openly in
the waiting room...which was fine.  The only problem I had with it, was...
the baby was gasping for air, slurping away like he may never get another meal and
when she was ready to burp him...I'm suddenly no more than 9" away from him
in the chair to her right.  There was no one in the two chairs to her left...lets get that straight right now.  I wanted to move, because, I have had the experience of projectile vomitting with my babies and I was waiting for it to happen all over again.
I'm not sure how I would have felt with this stranger's breastmilk all over me!
Is that shallow?
My point is, it's not the feeding in public that bothers me, but have a little
etiquette about how or where you face your baby to burp.
It's not all cutesy, wootsy if you cover a stranger in spit-up.

Aside from the fact that this truck could have caused a bad accident (lucky I'm a
world famous blogger who can take liberties while driving in the fastlane...NOT), I do
believe this is a good cause because let's face it, nursing mothers can't always
pump milk on request for outings and why shouldn't people be allowed to do in
public something as natural and beautiful as breastfeeding?

And now, if you're driving down the highway one day and you see this, you won't
be shocked and wondering what in the Sam heck it is!
Food for thought!
xo

Sharing with:

We got our Grandbaby Fix yesterday when Robynn and Logan
came out to the River for an afternoon/evening visit!
Yay!

I can't believe how much he's changed since we saw him last!
They grow so quickly!  He's cooing and smiling now and he's super alert.
You can see the intelligence looming in those sweet eyes and
he's so strong he can push his feet against your hands like a superhero!

When he arrived, he was snoozin' peacefully in his carseat, so we left him
to his dreams...even though all we wanted to do was wake him up and
hug the little dickens out of him!

Look at those little toes!

Robynn is such a great mommy!  So self-assured and confident and calm.
I love watching her with him...could do it all day really!

And, she's glowing...so radiant and looks fantastic!

Sometimes Logan had serious facial expressions....

....and sometimes surprised looks!

So adorable...I know...such a cliche, but sooo true!

Papa Dan is in love with his new grandbaby....

It's strange to imagine that one day Logan's precious little fingers will
be as large as Dan's, isn't it?

We definitely got our fix!  But, like addicts, we can't wait for another!
Have a wonderful, joyful weekend!
xo

or
"A Day in the Life of an Impulsive Couple"
Yup.
It's a chicken coop.

Let's start at the beginning.
A couple years ago, my daughter Megan bought me a book for my birthday,
after overhearing me talk of how one day I'd love to raise chickens and
have farm fresh eggs everyday!

I read it two years ago cover to cover!
But, alas....we decided that was crazy at this point in our home renos
and that we'd much rather have a Greenhouse!  Hahaha!
(and really....plants don't chase you around your own yard!)

So, fast forward to yesterday from two years ago and you'll find
Maureen (It's All Connected), her sister Lynne & myself sitting around the
patio table out back (in our bathingsuits!  March!) after our
aerobic swim workout around 5pm.
The buzz is the new TSC Flyer that arrived in the morning because
there's a chicken coop in there for $249.99!

This baby has:
Pull-out ABS dropping pan for easy cleaning sleeping room,
with built-in nesting box.
Three hinged access doors and
and exercise run.

Paul, Lynne's husband has gone to check out the sizing of it and returned in glee.
We're all looking at each other, like...should we do it?
And yes....off Dan & Paul go to pick up not one, but three poultry hutches!
Here in our wee little village of population somewhere around 40-60 people, three of us
have just decided to make the town the egg producing capitol of Ontario.

Now you may be thinking....how rash?  how silly?  They're just playing.
And in a sense we are, however, Maureen actually had 50 chickens at one time years ago and her daughter runs a rescue farm a few hours away where she rescues Battery chickens, so we have access to some already laying hens.
Plus...we all love eggs....did I mention that?
and right now...we've been getting our eggs from a friend.  Maureen & Lynne get theirs from Maureen's daughter, so why not be smart and raise our own!

We're hoping Maureen's daughter will be able to supply the three of us with
4 leghorn chickens each....I say hope because I don't know if she was expecting  all
three of us to suddenly acquire chicken coops!

Now it's just a matter of deciding where to place our coops.
We've decided to put ours in the front garden because it's fenced in (well, except for that lovely hole I showed you yesterday...but we'll fix it...don't worry!) and the dogs
do not have access to the front yard, thus eliminating the problem of dogs
barking incessantly at chickens and also, the chickens can roam freely in
the front garden, fertilizing my gardens at will.

This is where I say I'll be skipping through my gardens throwing out feed to the chickens with a floppy hat on my head, singing The Sound of Music.....commit me NOW!

What was I thinking?
I don't know....what do you think?
xo

This posting is actually going to be a series as it is a project in motion!
Please click HERE for Greenhouse Hell - Part I

or head on over to the tab "Herbs, Flowers and Such" in my main bar above.
xo

Hi everyone!
I was up super early today and then....fell asleep on my couch with Blarney!
Ugh!
I was supposed to be up to post this so you'd know to head on over to
Eleventh House
and see my guest posting on herb gardening!

Tammi named it "Welcome Spring and Welcome Wendy"
and I'm so honoured to have been asked by her to not only
be her first guest blogger ever....but to have it be my first guest blog EVER!
While you're there....take a look around!
Tammi's a wonderful person, a loyal blogging friend and so very creative!
Please come back and tell me what you think?!

Happy Spring!
xo

Cathy from My 1929 Charmer tagged me!
Now I'm IT!
It's a new blog game making it's way around our spaces here and
it's not obligatory to play, however, isn't it kind of nice
to learn some special insights to the bloggers you follow regularly?
I think it makes us all seem more human!
I love that she included me in this game and that I had an opportunity to
see her answers as well as ask some of my own!
Thanks so much Cathy!

Here's the rules....don't worry, they're fun and not difficult!

Cathy's Questions:
1.  Why did you start blogging?
     I started blogging to put my thoughts in order and have something constructive to do
     in my daily activities.  I had been off work with chronic backpain for a few years and
     was floundering daily going from activity to activity to change up positions and this
     was a vessel for me to express myself creatively and to find commaraderie.
2.  How frequently do you check your blog statistics?  Do you check them everyday or
     do you not care about the number of hits on your site?
     At first, I was checking everyday, back when I started blogging in August and got
     excited at the slightest rise on the graph!  But now, I probably only check about once
     every 2-3 weeks, because for me...it's more of an outlet and a sharing experience.  I
     really don't think I'll ever make any money doing this...I just enjoy it!  It gives me
     purpose!
3.  What fictional book character do you most relate to or would like to be friends with?
     I believe it would have to be Claire from the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. 
     Her knowledge of herbs helped her to survive in another century after passing 
      through the ancient stones in Scotland where she had to use courage & 
     determination.
4.  Other than reading or blogging, what do you do for fun?
     I love to garden herbs/veggies/flowers because I find it so peaceful being lost in my
     own thoughts and ideas and gratifying when you see the end result.  I also love
     antiquing with my husband on lazy days and entertaining friends with dinner,
     yacking and pulling out the music bowl when everyone grabs an instrument and
     sings and plays along to the music!

5.  Share your favourite quote.
     That's easy!  "Your history makes you who you are".
6.  Who were your favourite authors of all time and why?
     Diana Gabaldon for her Outlander Series.  This series was riveting and extending
     upon question #3, Claire is thrown into a world foreign to her in a time travel 
     experience full of adventure, romance, mystery...it's just a conglomerate of all things
     wonderful to read about. 
     I also love Nelson Demille's books for the wit, the intelligence and adventure and
     most recently have fallen head over heels in love with George RR Martin's "A Game
     of Thrones".  Fantastic writer and the characters have you enthralled...now we're
     watching the DVD of the first book in the series and it's kept so close to the book,
     we're loving it!
7.  What is your favourite hobby?
     hmmm....I'd have to say gardening, but in the off months....cooking.

8.  What would someone be surprised to find out about you?
     I guess that I was a 911 Operator/Police Dispatcher when I worked.  It's an intimidating
     job to others not in the emergency personnel world, but sooo gratifying...like a small
     way of giving back by helping others.
9.  If you were given three wishes, what would they be?
     On a personal level, I'd wish for back health for both myself and my husband.
     On a familial level, I'd wish for good health & financial freedom for my children
     On a universal level, I wouldn't wish for world peace because it might disrupt the
     cosmic forces, however, I'd wish for less unneccesary deaths.
10. What is your greatest strength?
      I would have to say "Compassion" for others.  I've always befriended fallen birds and
      my friends laugh because we've taken in so many people during their troubled times
      that they say "Some people bring home stray pets...Wendy brings home stray
      people!".
11. Freebie question
      This is tough Cathy!  Okay....
      If you could blog like any other blogger you follow...who would it be?
      Karen at "The Art of Doing Stuff"!  She's hilariously witty (sometimes acerbicly so,   
      which is funny in itself!), creative and a wonderful teacher in her tutorials.  Hailing
      from Toronto, Ontario, she has a chicken coop in her backyard that she built
      herself...the cosmopolitan of all chicken houses!

Now, it's your turn to answer the questions I make up for you?
It's okay if you don't want to participate, but I'd love to know
just a little bit more about each of you!

1.  It's All Connected
2.  Trumatter
3.  Eleventh House
4.  Mrs. Hines' Class
5.  Villabarnes (we all want to know more about you Rosemary!)
6.  My Great Finds
7.  The Project Queen
8.  DIY Home Sweet Home
9.  Desire Empire
10. Fairy Rocks and Things
11. Timeless Treasures

Okay...are you ready?!
Here's your 11 questions!

1.  If you could blog like any other blogger you follow....who would it be?
2.  What is your favourite part about blogging?  ie: photography, creating, posting?
     And why?
3.  What is your first memory ever in your life?
4.  What do you do for fun?  Other than blogging.
5.  What style of clothing do you prefer?  Jeans?  Dresses?
6.  What was your career for the majority of your life?
7.  If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be? And why?
8.  What is your strongest trait?  Good or bad.
9.  Have you ever had an encounter with a ghost?
10. What's the most favourite movie you ever watched?
11.  Freebie question....just like Kathy gave me! (you choose the question & answer)

I hope you all will choose to do this and pass it on, because really...it
does give us a little insight to who you really are!
But, I'll understand if you don't...it's up to you!

I'll leave you with this morning's vista from our back deck....

When Dan & I were down in the States picking up Blarney,
I came across this little shelf in a mall store that sold used items and country folk art
in the form of furniture and plaques, etc.
For the life of me, I can't remember the name of that store.
(I'm almost 50, don't forget!)
But, the best part about the rusted dirty thing was that it was $9.99!
After spraypainting, it now takes a place of honour above the royal throne
in our powder room on the main floor.

It's rather quaint isn't it?
Those of you who grew up in the 60s/70s must remember this steel diamond
patterned look that was on outdoor patio tables or magazine racks....

What I really enjoyed doing was adding special little accents to my shelf.

A doily with a mercury birdy along with two vintage medicine bottles
from my collection of bottles.

A pretty candle (which I'll loathe lighting)

Four new, fluffy, white towels from HomeSense

and a wee little scent holder I can add lavender to and finish it off.

This powder room was painted prior to my starting a blog, so I don't have before
photos, however, this next photo will show you the colour it was before.
I'm ecstatic to have it transformed to light and airy.

I had already hung these depression era plates my friend gave me a few months ago.
I like the feel of them here on this wall and they're not stowed
away in a cupboard somewhere where no one can see them!

I know...it's a little bit strange to hang plates on the wall of your
powder room...but I'm nothing if not strange!
I also hung a lovely dried flower collage my Aunt Linda gifted me many years ago.
She created this herself and I'm happy I have a place to display it now.

It's all starting to come together and don't you just love how a
bargain buy can change your whole view of a room?

Simple things can be so whimsical!
xo

Sharing with:
Link It Up Wednesday - Junk In Their Trunk
Whatever Wednesday - Momma Hen's Frugal Life
Show & Tell - Mrs. Hines Class
White Wednesday - Faded Charm
Rock 'n Share - The Shady Porch
Feathered Next Friday - French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday - At The Picket Fence
Vintage Inspiration - Common Ground
Sunday's Best Par.tay - My 1929 Charmer