Bug-o-Phobic

As I write this *Mila*, the almost 4.5 year old, is reading stories about a tidy little mouse with her grandmother. Those of you who know her grandmother will know the story. And during the nightly bedtime routine a large pine beetle came to call. It would seem that while the blueberries of NW Ontario are large -- the bugs are even larger. Take the mosquitoes for example. Now take the case of the Asian long horned beetle that has infested Southern Ontario and now the case of the Pine Sawyer Beetle.

Now enter the case of my daughter. She's deathly afraid of bugs. And we take her to the town beach in the first week of our arrival and this large Sawyer beetle attaches itself to her pink shirt and she goes ballistic.

Day 15: Here we are shaking out bedding and inspecting every speck of the laundry since 2 Sawyer beetles escaped from the fresh clean linen that was hanging on the line. So much for saving the environment.

signed, the willow

Blueberry Style

I came into this world as a muppet

Look into my eyes, they are all googly.

26th Annual Blueberry Festival

signed, the willow

Northwestern Ontario Blueberries

And I know. I've been absent for a while. Making good use of the weather we brought up north with us. There's been swimming, boating, scrapes and bruises, attack of the killer mosquitoes and snoring dogs. It's been so good, I've forgotten that I even had a blog. Now I must be bored and back with a vengance. My week off was deserved and more hectic than ever.

Now, on with the most desired of all good things to be desired from NWO (Northwestern Ontario)....blueberries. If you've eaten blueberries from the grocery store, they've more than likely had the circumference of that of a Canadian nickel, been as tasteless as a rock and left you feeling, "Who cares about blueberries.". You my dear need to try the real northern lowbush blueberries of NWO.

Blueberry Muffins

1/4 cup soft butter

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, well beaten

1 1/2 cups pastry flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

In a bowl cream together bugger and sugar, add egg and mix well. Add sifted ingredients alternately with milk and fold in blueberries. Fill 12 buttered muffin tins with batter (2/3 full). Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

Eat your weight in pancakes

There is a reason why people visit S. Lookout during the blueberry Festival. I'm sure the pancake breakfast has something to do with it. Although *Mila* chose not to eat a bite.

Oh great, I broke my promise to my dad to never post pictures of him.

signed, the willow.

I miss IKEA and my dog and my husband

While I am away missing my dog and my husband, I am also missing the 2009 edition of the IKEA catalogue. I left on a Tuesday and on Thursday there was an IKEA catalogue on my doorstep. I cannot stand the suspense. While I wait, I think I'll peruse their catalogue online.

You can too.

And OH MY GOD THERE IS AN IKEA DECORATING CONTEST....one problem, just one room to pick from!

signed, the willow

The Skeptical Environmentalist

What do you think? Bjorn sure makes you sigh a sigh of relief.

The Skeptic Environmentalist: Bjorn Lomborg

signed, the willow

What Family Tree Friday is all about

What Family Tree Friday is all about.

signed, the willow

Would the Author of this Book Please Step Forward?

On my fabulous vacation this summer, I am sharing space with my mentor and fabulous artist, Lady of the Lake. She's so marvelous and so are her altered books. You can look, but you can't touch.

signed, the willow (from the lake)

How I spend my allowance

*Mila* and I are probably the worst pair of people to shop together. You see, I look at something and she begs me to get it if it's for her OR she begs me to get it if it's for me. When it comes to her dad, she gives it some thought and then generally drops it in the cart with a "whatever". This shopping of ours is now coming to a ceasing halt as we head up North, the True North, for a holiday. There will be Wal-Mart, Home Hardware and maybe a drug store. No IKEA, no GAP, no Old Navy and certainly there will be no H&M.

No Joe Fresh clothes. Just SAAN. I miss the beauty of the lakes and the love of my family in my hometown. But I love the shopping of my new home.

signed, the willow

He's got Style. He's got grace.

He's *STEVE*! And while I'm away on holidays with my parents, I will need this little reminder of him. How sweet he is when his nose hair is not whistling in the breeze. How cute he is to us when I don't have to wash his dirty socks. Even with all these sounds and smells he still makes my heart skip a beat (although I'd like to tackle him to the ground for not letting me take control of the Universe).

I love you *Steve*. See you soon.

xoxoxox, the willow