I Don't Even Like Photos of Flowers.

There I said it.  They don't interest me all that much, but I was at Milner Gardens http://www.viu.ca/MilnerGardens/ today with Stu and the other participants of the conference, so here are a few photos I took...oh and Stu did encourage me to switch lenses, but I did not. Thus you will have to check out the website to get a better WIDER view:)

This is not a flower.  Just a tree growing an offshoot...or something.  BARK.

ALSO:  not a flower.  He is cute and smells good though, can I take him home?  Yes I can.

I think this is a Lily.  Pretty sure that orange stuff in the middle will have me sneezing all night.

First In Spite of Me Blog Contest:  Guess this flower and I will send you a milk bucket in MooLand.  

So ya, a tad boring, will have better stuff tomorrow...off an a little adventure, haven't even told the kids about it so I certainly won't tell you...lol.

"We're in BobbiLand?"

Yes we are. And it's NOT a democratic country.

Do they even have to ask??  Although I never did have a name for it prior to that inquiry.
The kids are starting a coalition party to run me off, but they will have to do some SERIOUS fundraising.
It's been that kind of day...great overall,  yet the kids were staging a coup.  Unsuccessfully I might add.

Started the day on the beach, only to discover the tide was out a mile!  Hope these creatures made it until the tide returned.  Also the kids wanted to know how Sand Dollars and Clams reproduce. Yep, and since I didn't have the information at the top of my head we checked it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_dollar and http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_clams_reproduce

ok, am I allowed to be excited about this photo, if I was the photographer???  Of course I take 'em all, but this one is coooool!  That crab jumps out of the girl's hand shortly...she was entertained for hours.

Christmas in July?  Holly beside the restaurant where we are staying, very vibrant!

Our flowers should be this tall and that pretty in another month or two in Alberta?

Craig Bay Heritage Museum.  My kids LOVE history and any old implement they can set their eyes upon.  Or lean on.  It was great to way to spend the afternoon.

Thankful for the sunshine and free time....relaxing, perhaps not, but life is good.

ROAD TRIP!

So I didn't post yesterday.  I love a good rant, but whining, not so much, and yesterday I was whiney!
We drove from Strathcona County, AB to Vancouver, BC, a long haul with our kids.  For reasons we don't understand, they were both carsick!  We have driven to Whitehorse and back and not one time did they get sick, not so lucky this time.  We are very thankful for the safe journey, no car troubles, etc.

Today we ventured onto the BC Ferries and headed for Nanaimo.  It was a beautiful experience, one that was new to the kids.  Well, unless you count the Bleriot Ferry (which they were equally excited about, lol!).   http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType34/Production/bleriot_ferry.pdf

                                                             The Men in my life

 I used my 70-200mm today, so I had to be back half of the ferry to get these photos...got 'em on the sly!

                            The girl took this, I love what I've done with my hair.

                                                Saw this plane land just as we docked.

           I am a prairie girl...will take the mountains over the ocean, but I like them both together!

                                           The view from our room, not half bad;)

QUOTE from the boy:  "This trip gave me a whole different outlook on this area and the City of Vancouver."

I am NOT sad to leave the cold and rain behind, here is my favourite tweet of the day (hahaha!):

Wildsau Dream Crusher Here's a list of things I love about my furnace firing up on July 9th:

No Math Like the Old Math: A School House Rant.

Last week the kids had their last day of school and with that, their report cards.  I was generally impressed with them, both kids are a solidly “proficient” with a side of “excellents”.  What does that mean you ask?  Not fully sure, but this is the grading system here in the Elk Island School Division.  A’s and B’s?  Nope…here you are “Limited”, “Acceptable” (which is below average) “Proficient” and “Excellent”.  As you can see it’s all set out to make any student feel good about them selves…no hunny, you aren’t failing, your knowledge is merely limited.  Try explaining to your child that their acceptable work is very much UNacceptable.  My favorite quote on this matter comes from Disney, “It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity…” Robert Parr, The Incredibles.

This takes me to the “New Math”.  My kids were told that their parents would not understand the “new math” (gets me off the hook for helping the kids with math homework now, doesn’t it?) and according to last month’s preliminary Provincial Achievement Test results, neither do the kids.  Apparently the old school method of memorizing the Times Tables is no longer a relevant way of learning.  Also, getting the right answer is gravy, the real grades are in the process of getting any answer at all.  Back in grade two, my son went from being in the 90^th percentile for Math, to the 70^th.  His brain is wired for “Old School” Math….

I have the highest regard for educators, I don’t envy them their task.  The Hubs has an education degree, we get the level of commitment required to teach.  There are many great ones out there.  The school administrator at our school however should move on.  I would have made a stink about this person, however I care a lot about the future of the little country school and did not want to shed a negative light on it.  As more cutbacks happen to the education system, this person teaches more subjects.  One subject they have taught all along is ART.  I support the arts as much as anybody, but their idea of Art is having the kids do a perfect replica of this person’s example project.  They treat it like a core subject, and has been known to rip up a student’s project when it fails to meet their standards.  In one aspect of Art, my 11 yr old boy was given a limited. LIMITED. In art. For reals.  Makes my blood boil.  Hard to imagine this could be possible unless he grabbed the green crayon and colored in the whole project.  This is not a case of a lack of talent, it was a clear case of a lack of respect.  I had a hard time convincing the boy to show any when this person is so clearly undeserving.  Can’t inspire kids in art class?  BUH BYE.  I bet said person couldn’t draw a picture of Ken Dryden making a save or Henry Burris making a pass.

Ya Ha Tinda 2011

Third annual week in Ya Ha Tinda, just us and the horses exploring God's Country.

RV cleaned up and put away, yet my house looks like laundry threw up in it.

Let's focus on the photos, shall we? 

 I felt pretty safe until the Zombie Children made an appearance.

On our way to Eagle Lake, did a little fishing.  Hubs caught and released one...it had a mind of it's own.

Not totally technology free with a TV/DVD player, we introduced the kids to the 

Lord Of the Rings Trilogy.  They LOVED it and we got so much more out if it this time around.

My folks came up for a night...fell in love with Ya Ha Tinda

My Cowboy.

All in all, a fabulous week.  I need a shower.