Going Septic

9:30 Saturday night.  House is quiet; dogs and Sprouts dreaming and adults surfing channels and webs.  All is well.

9:31 Saturday night. Basement toilet gurgles.  Peace descends.

9:35 Saturday night.  Basement toilet belches.  LK perks ears at unusual sound.  Goes back to peaceful surfing.

9:40 Saturday night.  Basement toilet belches a monotone of notes.  LK gets up to investigate this strange serenade.  As he walks into the bathroom he shouts, "I need a bucket."

And so the longest night in several years began.

By 11:00 we had cleaned up the mess, phoned a parent, a church friend, and a guy we know who "does plumbing and other stuff".  The parent, of course, was helpful, but not able to drop everything and popout 2 000km to come and help.  The church friend was out of town.  The guy was in the middle of his own project on his own house, but gladly talked us through opening up the tank behind the house.

If you haven't had the pleasure of the perfume of an open septic tank... you are missing NOTHING.  It is worse than dirty diapers, toddler vomit on the carpet, and skunk combined.  And, according the subsequent research done while not sleeping later that night, the fumes are toxic and can actually kill you.

Date night?  I think not.

We went to bed with all water sources carefully turned off and worried that we were dealing with a tank disaster.  Some of us slept like babies.  Some of us tossed and turned.  Some of us lay awake predicting every possible way this could mean the complete and utter destruction of our home.

Sunday AM:  all family members were forbidden to flush anything.  All water waste was carefully hoarded in pots in sinks to prevent anything from going down a drain.  Showers were verboten.  Tooth brushing was to be done under careful supervision.

More phone calls.

More opening of hatches to septic tanks.

This hatch opening determined that the tank was in no danger.  This is excellent news as problems with the tank and/or field are pricey to fix and miserable to deal with in January (even the warmest January in the history of NW Ontario). A blockage was determined to be the most likely culprit.  So the hunt was on.

The most effective phone call was placed carelessly by a tired person right at 9:35 to a friend who was just enjoying the first hymn of said church service.  Being a saint in all ways, said friend left church early, went home and picked up his emergency kit, and arrived on our doorstep in less than an hour.

A lesson and some experimentation on the use of a plumbing snake ensued.  The snake explored every possible location it could be sent to in order to flush out a blockage.

After about an hour of thinking and working in tandem, LK and Sir Saint were very pleased to discover a lot of new information about the workings of the bowels of our house. They also found the blockage.

It turns out that some septic tanks have a filter in the far end where the 'water' leaves the tank to move into the septic field.  That filter needs regular maintenance.  Turns out the the year and a half we have lived in this house is just enough time for it to get completely a bit clogged.  And then that causes things to get sluggish up the pipe.  That in turn leads to more clogs.  And belching toilets.

So we have a new item for our annual maintenance list to keep the house running smoothly.  We learned how septic systems work, and many of the possible ways they can not work.  We learned to appreciate the fascinating science of septic disposal.

The most important lesson we learned is that a community of people who are willing to help out is the biggest blessing anyone could ever ask for.  From parents who love to share their painfully learned experience knowledge over the phone, to professionals who actually encourage you to solve the problem without paying them (and give you good advice on how to do so), to friends who put being the hands of Christ over standing in a church service.

I am so excited to enter 2016 and the challenges that are ahead with a family who is amazing, a community that circles the wagons to help someone in need, and lots of adventures lying ahead.

I just hope the next adventure smells better.

Winter is a Thing

For several years I ran regularly.  It was wonderful exercise and kept me able to fit into the same size of clothes without spending too much time counting calories.  Last year I lost my running mojo and then had a fall that messed up my hips.  Messed up hips make running very painful.  My physiotherapist said no more running until I have enough core strength to hold the Plank for 90 seconds.  A major hurdle for me.  Since then I have been struggling to find another way to get exercise in for both the mutt and I.

In the summer we started bikejoring.  This sport involves a bike, a person, and a dog (obviously).  Think dogsledding, but there is a bike behind the dog rather than a sled.  We stayed on roads as my off-road bike skills are not strong.  We both loved it.

Until it snowed and the bike got put away for six months.  Probably seven this winter.  Winter is a thing here.  A major, more-than-half-the-year thing.

Yesterday Astrid and I participated in a Skijor/Kicksled Workshop together.  We have been trying to transfer our bikjor skills to using a kicksled (much closer to dogsledding) for the winter season.  However, since I am too heavy for her to safely pull alone (a dog shouldn't be pulling more than 1.5 times their own weight) and she doesn't get the idea of line out (keeping the line tight out front of the sled) yet we are having limited success.  When the workshop popped up on Facebook I thought it would be fun and maybe even educational.

We had a great time and met other dogs who mush with their people.  I came home inspired to perservere.  Astrid got to run in tandem with an experienced dog.  The two of them had plenty of strength to pull me fast!

We came home and persuaded the Boy to join us (with almost no trouble as this kind of activity is totally his kind of thing).  Today we went again.  They are both getting the hang of it rather quickly.  She still won't go more than a corner ahead of me (who is running at a slow plod to try and keep up with them - not so good for my hips), but they have wonderful bursts of speed where Jo steers around bends and Astrid lets go and runs with the same delight she does in front of the bike.

Winter is a thing.  We might as well make the most of it.  Doing so with my puppy and a Sprout makes that a joy.

Comfort

Potlucks are my very favourite way to enjoy fellowship.  The hostess doesn't have the stress of making a big meal.  The guests feel they are contributing in a meaningful way.  The meal is casual and relaxed.  Everyone can try new tastes or stick with comfort food.

This weekend we had a potluck with a group of friends.  The food and company were wonderful.  There was a new family there, which got everybody asking questions and sharing stories afresh.

The very best part of the gathering for the kids was the critters.  Our hosts have 5 dogs, 4 cats, and 3 fish.  Almost a zoo!  Heaven for the Sprouts.

Now you would think that a house with that many critter family members would be chaotic and a bit odorous.  Au contraire!

The fish are obviously very quiet and stay put in their tank.  They are very soothing to sit and watch while adults get all excited about the assorted food being brought in and moms swap recipes.

Only one of the cats deigned to grace us with his presence, and he thinks he is a dog.

The dogs started the evening outside and were brought in slowly on or two at a time to allow them to get used to all the guests and settle down.  By the time we had all been there for an hour they were sprawled out on the living room floor or cosy with kids.  When the hosts moved from one room to another all five dogs heads were up to see where everyone important was going.

We went home to greet our pup and I was absolutely convinced that she needs company.  Not a pack of four more, but one more for sure.

Moments Matter

On really good days, I am done my daily supply teaching job in time to get home, gather the dog and walk down to meet the Sprouts at the bus.  Today I was teaching at Sprout 2's school in the afternoon.  This meant he came down to the classroom where I was working and we drove home together.

We were early enough to get the kettle full, turn it on and gear up.  Well bundled against our ridiculous wind chill we took the Dog to meet Sprout 1 as she piled off the bus.

Sprout 2 was a trouper about the wind in his face, not to be confused with the much more enjoyable wind in your hair.  And the Dog is working on off-leash walking, so we were loaded up with treats (aka behaviour bribes).

We met Sprout 1 just as she was headed down the road.  The Dog was thrilled to see one of his pack ahead.  But since there were treats involved, she waited to be told to go greet her person.  I was so proud of her.

On the way home we took turns calling her to come back to us (she loves to scout ahead to be sure its safe for the whole pack).  She really like this game as food was involved.

I had a moment of pure joy.  My kids are together, no bickering.  My dog is listening, no running off after deer.  And my husband is on his way home to join us.

Can it get much better than this?

Goodbye 2014

It was a great year.  We realized a lofelong dream to have a home of our own.  We found a community where we can use our gifts to serve others.  We are growing and changing as a family unit and as individuals.  I am excited to see what 2015 will bring in all those things!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends!

May 2015 be filled with personal growth, dreams realized, and strong community for each and every one of you.

Not Dead Yet

We have a quiet life.   We like our quiet life.   I thought we were pretty busy.  Now that I see the wheel that some of the other women I work with run every day, I am doubly thankful for our quiet life.

I am plenty exhausted just making sure that we all have breakfast in tummies, lunches in bags, and are safely on various methods of transportation to the four schools we head out to each day.  There is a certain sense of nostalgia being acquired to my memories of our six years all going to the same school at the same time every day.  It was a lot simpler.

However, the Sprouts are weathering the transition well.

Fi is starting to feel successful at school again (her standard or success is a little higher than mine) after a few months at the beginning of the year feeling that she had lots of gaps that left her struggling in class.  Interestingly, in talking to her teachers they didn't have those concerns about her progress.   Perfectionism is both genetic and environmentally learned.  She also has made a small group of core friends who she hangs out with each day between classes and at lunch.  She shares stories about creating newscasts together using their ipads/phones and the chats they have about books they love (several Harry Potter fans).

Jo doesn't stress too much about academics. He does find tests hard, and has started to study before he has one in the past month.  He is using Fi as a model of how to succeed in his schoolwork.  His big delight is his best buddy who goes to his school, lives down the road, and rides the same bus every day.  The joy he takes in having a bff to be completely boy with is palpable.  They are helping me teach Astrid to pull the kicksled.  This has been a somewhat hilarious process.  The serious training with her happens when the boys are at school.  We test the training with the boys.  A friend who loves to run, play games, and shoot Nerf guns makes him very happy.

LK has his hands full to overflowing with work-school and school-work.  He spends his days commuting to GN, teaching and commuting home.  He is thankful for a good group to commute with.  They make the long drive enjoyable.  He spends his evenings doing homework for his teacher certification.  I joke about being a school-widow this year.  Ironic as I am the one who has been completely absorbed in my career for so many years.  I am learning to appreciate what he has lived with.  We are holding on to the hope that he will emerge with his Ontario Teaching Certificate at the end while this challenging time passes.

I am learning all sorts of things about the two local school boards and their various schools.  I have been able to visit such a wide variety of classrooms as a substitute teacher.  While keeping my schedule straight can be a challenge (thank the Lord for the calendar in my phone to keep me going to the correct school each day) I am enjoying this growth process.  I was blessed to be offered a part-time LTO (Long Term Occasional) at the end of September.  This meant half days at one location and a steady income until Feb. 13.  This has made the stress of leaving a full-time teaching position with lots of seniority and jumping into daily supply teaching much easier.

On the home front we are learning the rhythms of being home owners.  We have our first well adventure (no water for a day), and have found the rhythm of heating with wood.  We all are deeply thankful for a retreat from the world that is cosy, safe, and welcoming at the end of each day.

Our four-legged family member turned two this year.  My understanding was that she would begin to slow down now.  That understanding is incorrect.  She lives to run fast.  That is a perfect fit for summer bikejoring, which she and I both really enjoy.   The transition to running with a kicksled isn't quite as smooth as I anticipated.  When she doesn't get enough running time she is kind enough to let me know by eating my boots.  Not my ugly cheap rubber boots, either.  So, I am learning lots about how to engage an energetic creature.  The payback is 150% unconditional love all the time and more adoration that one human being can absorb.  Now to get the whole family to share the benefits...

A Living Space

It has been almost two weeks of our new school year routine.  LK and the Sprouts are established in their new school year routines with a fairly smooth entry.  Lord willing, it will remain that way.

The Sprouts are delighted with their lives at the moment.  Fi because, for the first time in her life, school is a challenge to her brain, and she has started to develop a small group of friends at school that she chose.  Jo is happy because there is a family down the road with four boys.  One of them is two years older than Jo and the two of them want to play together after school EVERY DAY.  They are loud and have more fun in an hour and a half before dinner than I have in a week.

LK is the one with the heavy load right now.  He has full-time teaching, a two+ hour commute each day, and coursework to get done every night.  Since his load is the heaviest the rest of us are working hard to make sure that those three things are all he has to worry about.

I am not working full-time.  So there is a lot of time for me to putter.  Hopefully in a month there will be a lot less puttering time (when teachers start getting colds and flu from their students).  Since I anticipate this slow period won't last, I am trying to make the most of it.

The first project is to get the living room looking and feeling like a living room. 

 

The couch is our first grown-up couch purchase (rather than a hand-me-down).  It was delightful to choose the colour ourselves.  Surprise, surprise, we chose a pretty neutral colour.  I hope to have this couch for at least ten years - so it needs to be able to go through several style phases in my décor.

 

 

The coffee table was a great toy for Jo to spin for hours in the first week.  It works like an old-fashioned piano stool; spinning to go up and down.  Infinitely adjustable for different height preferences, and perfect to turn game boards for family game nights.

 

 

Silver finishes to play up the coffee table trim.  This was my Nan's tray once-upon-a-time.  Now I can think of her when I drink my tea.  Fi has her bird watching guide handy.  We have a bird feeder hanging off the edge of the deck, and today there is a big, bold blue jay who keeps swooping in and shaking the whole feeder.

 

We love our Ikea Poang chair so much we bought a second.  Everyone likes to sit in them and bounce.  They function as our family motion therapy chairs.  I discovered this summer that taking the cushions off to wash works beautifully.  Gotta love Ikea.

 

My plants finally have enough light to be happy.  The patio doors open onto the side deck.  The shamrocks are very happy there.  I am very happy with my plant stool which was a loonie at an estate sale!

 

We haven't found just the right side table for tea and a book beside the couch.  For the time being this outdoor table will do.  I has just enough room to put your teacup with the plant and books.

 

The piano is the key to making our living room feel like home.  We can sit down and play either the guitar or the piano any time we want to - which makes me happier than new shoes.  The Sprouts and I are practicing all their favourite songs regularly - "Let It Go" and "Ten Thousand Reasons" are top of the charts this week.  It also provides a place for LK's globe collection and a bit of seasonal décor. 

The art print is from a Dutch artist, Anneke Kaai.  This is Psalm 150.  Very appropriate for above the music room.