from the hinterland

It is a lazy, lazy, lazy day here at the Sayo Niedzwiecki household in the countryside. We are chilling big time. Ji only goes to school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternate Fridays, so on the days off we basically stay at home and take it easy. It is a gorgeous fall day and the sun is a-shining on the aspens as they shake gently in the breeze. It is cold but just cold enough that you have to wear a jacket and run around a bit outside to stay warm.

This morning I got up at 7 with Seung Yi and fed her. Then fed her again. And again. And yet again. She is one HUNGRY girl. She goes through one side and gets the lion's share of the milk, then gets pissed off that the milk doesn't come so fast anymore. She'll screw her eyes up and scream, or else she'll gum down and open her eyes really wide and look from side to side as if trying to figure out where the milk has gone and who is the bastard who took it from her teeny tiny self. Then she switches over to get the first run on the other side. After that she usually gets her bum changed, but she's still hungry so she'll complain loudly while getting wiped down. I try to make her take awhile before going back for the third and fourth tries. I burp her, let her lie on my chest while I pat her back, help her to exercize her neck and arms and leggies, sing her songs, kiss her, walk around, and narrate all this as I go along. Sometimes she is not having any of it and shouts until I let her feed again. It is a very symbiotic/lifesucking alien kind of relationship at this point. If she has finally had enough, she'll allow me to take her off the milk machines and she'll doze a bit before she has her AWAKE time. This will last for an hour or two, during which she'll be calm and cheery and wide eyed, and will move around a little. If she nods off during her awake time, she makes great faces: the "ooooh" with her lips pursed, the "life is tragic" sad face, the "sneaky" half smile, and the red-faced "pooping in my sleep" face. It's all very entertaining but draining. Literally draining. And figuratively too.

Ji, meanwhile, seems to be having a good time up here. He's loving school, aside from getting poked in the eye by some kid yesterday, and is enjoying the laid back Canadian system of kindergarden. He played around with his lego and books and chatted to his Pa most of the morning and then ate a tasty omelette and later ran around outside with me.

Hm! The evening has taken an interesting turn. For the second day in a row we are enjoying a bee-yoo-tee-ful sunset and a rainstorm at the same time. Yesterday this atmospheric marvel resulted in an epic double rainbow 'round back of our house. Who knows what will develop today.

In other cool news, we've been cooking up a storm. No noodle lady? No sushi? No pork leg 'n egg? No problem! Last night Ji and Phet put together an extremely (and I'm not just saying this!) tasty gluten free pizza. It was totally excellent. The entire can of anchovies that graced the top of it also helped it achieve its tastiness. This morning Ji and I made chocolate chip cookies. Pretty sure it was his first time cause he had no idea that you didn't have to roll out drop cookies. I think he's only ever made shortbreads with his Gramma. Thank goodness he's getting the chance to enjoy these Canadian treats now that we have an oven in our house for a few months! This evening I also took advantage of the oven and baked up a delicious dish of roasted sweet potatoes, roasted garlic and onions, roasted ginger chicken, and mushrooms. Yummy! Tasted even better after all our running around outside in the forest this morning.

In other Canadian-esque achievements, Ji has now learned the words to "Oh Canada", he has started taking those processed cheese and cracker thingies on his lunch, he has bought and worn a full set of long johns, said set of long johns feature images of hockey players, and he is attending a school where I kid you not 90% of the student population is blonde. In his spare time he's memorizing Neil Young lyrics. Sweet.

Lastly in our round up today, shout outs to Ash 'n Sloane, who were here last week much to our pleasure. Sloane is (of course) superfantastic as always. Smart, beautiful, and funny just like her parents. Well, ok, Turner's not beautiful per se, but he is beautiful on the inside. Metaphorically speaking. Like, not his intestines, in case you're reading this, Ji Hong. Ash was the star of the week, taking Sloane and Ji off to the beach for hours on end, and racing up a storm with Ji in the backyard, and letting him join her and Sloane in the jacuzzi for some bubblicious fun. After the Bristowe Turners left, we thought we'd just relax, but then ended up having to run down to Toronto for the weekend to have our car looked at. Turned out to be a great weekend. Perfect weather in Toronto, Phet's aunts were in fine form and let Ji go rip-roaring around the house and took him to the lantern festival at Ontario Place, and Mum entertained Ji at a sleepover and hosted dim sum and a trip to Riverdale Farm, and on top of all that we got to visit with Jenny and Pheuy and Jodi and Pat and Cathie. And we had trash TV on in the basement while we were up at night with Princess. It was all good except for the ride back to the countryside, which roundly sucked. One hour to go from College and Bay to the Gardiner. One HOUR. Then rain and misery on the way out of town. Fortunately we were blessed with absolutely perfect children and the discovery of an awesome dosa restaurant on the way out of Brampton.

And we've been watching Russell Peters endlessly. So. Not too much to complain about round here.

[Countryside-20-September-2006]