Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

Hello from snowladen and hoarfrosty, foggy Saskatchewan. The other day Wyatt and I cleared the back deck and now he can go running the length of the deck and slide out onto the snowpile.

We are down to only 5 people per household, but our school is still going for which we are very grateful. I got a sewing day around at church last week and now our church sewing got canceled. Its disappointing but I guess we're getting used to changes, aren't we?

I delve into domestic things randomly and one thing I tried lately was making bar soap. My men were keenly interested in the scientific aspect of it all. I cut my soap into bars and its curing in my laundry room. 

Pat has been hauling grain to Edmonton and coal home again. Colby and Zach have been doing 12 hour days on a cementing project for Lance the last couple of weeks. Good times. Every spare moment they have the youth boys have been flooding the rink. I love love the stage we're at with our boys. The food consumption is truly phenomenal. 

Love 

Jo

P.S. Have you made soup lately? The Potatoe Soup recipe from the Klassen cookbook by Vivian is one of our favorites. I made a giant pot of it last week. 

P.P.S. And talking about food, my husband took me out for dinner on Sunday and I ate steak with delectable roasted tomatoes and onions on it. Mmm 

P.P.P.S. Food. Ahhh. Excuse me, its time to go make lunch.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

Hello from snowladen and hoarfrosty Saskatchewan. Wyatt and I went out after school today and cleared the back deck and now he can go running the length of the deck and slide out onto the snowpile.

We are now down to only 5 people per household, but our school is still going for which we are very grateful. As far as I know our congregation is mostly well.

Today I went to Melanie's for coffee with the schoolboard ladies. And we planned and discussed and it was suddenly 12:45! And I went grocery shopping on Monday and I hadn't gone for over 2 weeks so it was a haul! 

I delve into domestic things randomly and one thing I did yesterday was make my first batch of bar soap. My men were keenly interested in the scientific aspect of it all. I just cut my bars and set them in my sewing room to cure. 

Pat has been hauling grain to Edmonton and coal home, last week and this week. Colby and Zach have been doing 12 hour days on a cementing project last week and this week. Good times. I love love the stage we're at with our boys. The food consumption is truly phenomenal. 

I miss you, 

Jo

P.S. Pat took me out to Montana's for lunch the other day and I had the best fish!

P.P.S. Melanie served steaming tall bran muffins with real butter and coffee with cream. Yum.

P.P.P.S. You know how food blesses and satisfies along with the fellowship? We had Lindsay and her parents over for supper on Saturday and just plain grilled sausage and baked potatoes and old fashioned cherry cheesecake. And fellowship.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

I wish I could show you our glorious world this morning. After a blizzard yesterday the sky is clear and grey with small streaks of cream and pink in the east as we wait for the sunrise. Everything is calm now. The vehicles and bikes are layered with a thick icing of snow. 

Inside our house the heaters hum and everywhere are signs of family life; blankets and cushions strewn about the living room, empty coffee mugs and books and toys.

How blessed we are to have a home, a sanctuary to go to. Just us. Gathered together. Where we can say how we feel without fear or favor of man. Where we laugh at our own jokes. Where we talk about hard things. And teach good things.

The boys have been working in Outlook this last week on some cementing jobs but yesterday already work was canceled because of the storm, as well as school. Well, this morning at 7 Colby flew out the door to a fire call and Pat left shortly thereafter to the same fire. He's not on the fire department but Jason called and asked him to come.

And so a new week starts. Here's wishing you courage and strength for whatever you face. 

Love 

Jo

P.S. Its one year since Aunty Rosalee died. And what a century its been. Aren't you thankful that she's safe at home?

P.P.S. I'm also thankful that you are feeling so well despite the fact that you have Covid. And that you can be safe and cozy in your own home with all your children only a WhatsApp away.

P.P.P.S. Talking about home, can you smell the coffee? Its waiting for me.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

Tuesday has morphed into Wednesday. Its a warm-ish fall morning (+1C) and our yard is green and grey and brown with no sign of snow anywhere.

It was truly delightful to be with you on the weekend, short and sweet though it was. The long roads to and from crooked creek were made short by listening to stories and singing. The huge empty road from Edmonton to Crooked Creek, edged by gorgeous forests of spruce and pine and larch and layered with white was a balm for the soul. 

Little Vienna Beth is as beautiful as I imagined. And time spent together with Lar's and Ryan's was relaxing and good. And then attending church in Crooked Creek with the whole congregation and no masks - well, what more can we ask for. Thank you for the lovely weekend. 

Today is a sewing day for me. Pat and Zach just left on the truck. Wyatt just left on the bus. Colby goes to work for Jason soon. These are the best days, the normal, basic ones.

Love

Jo

P.S. Last time we went to the Villa to visit Grandpa he seemed to really enjoy the boys catwalking his wheelchair down the hall. Zach catwalked the whole length with Wyatt riding on his shoulders and Colby catwalked and balanced the wheelchair all the way backwards, stealthily and slowly, landing on the floor. 

P.P.S. Zach also is into catwalking his dirtbike down the road. Or the yard. I think he's done about a quarter mile at one shot. I prefer to not watch.

P.P.P.S. Talking about catwalking, Colby has taken to catwalking the skidsteer. He sort of dances with it, with the forks way up in the air as high as they'll go. Its a catwalk-y world.

Tuesdays With Jo

Mother Dearest,

We woke up to the most delicious blanket of snow this morning! Its the first of the season and we delight in the clean white coverlet, although it is melting swiftly. 

This has been such a good week. I almost feel like whispering, but we have been home. So many days. The teachers came for supper on Friday. I had food made, thankfully, when they called (which is nothing to sneeze at). We helped with church cleaning on Wednesday and the youth helped with church cleaning on Friday. And Val invited us over for supper on Saturday because I bought an old recliner from her on the Swanson Sisters Buy and Sell Chat! I feel like that should be highlighted. As in, the buy and sell chat. 

Oh and Sunday was our stay-home-from-church day. We went to Saskatoon for coffee in the afternoon and picked up pizza for supper at folks with Jeff's because folks just got home from Ontario. 

When there's not as much on the schedule I tend to bomb out a bit. Its so good to relax and read a good book. Or play endless games of Rook with Wyatt. Or sew a mini-quilt or two. Or watch our little Polly kitty play. We all adore her antics.

Love 

Jo

P.S. I just found a cup of "home-made paint" in my sewing room, courtesy of Wyatt. 

P.P.S. This week I found a cardboard box with another cardboard box taped on top with red tucktape. And a little boy hovering over arranging dogfood in a blue plastic shop container. For the cats.

P.P.P.S. I also found a small wooden box with fishing magazines (from Colby) and crow feathers and a brain quest game and colored modeling clay and a scissors and a notebook and a C-.clamp in it. In Wyatt's room. Just saying.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

Happy Thanksgiving! Its a wintry morning; ice on vehicle windshields and a biting wind, but the grass is green and the blue-blue sky promises fall once again.

It has been a week of socializing for me. Last Wednesday I went with Am to Bow Island and back (yes, all in one day). We held baby Isla and talked and rocked. It was lovely altogether. 

Our teacher, Lacey, had her family out for the weekend so we hosted a fun group Saturday for supper; Rennies, Jeff's, Chris n Mik and Lacey and her family. We had an absolutely gorgeous day, topping out at +26c. So we ate outside and sat around the fires in the evening. It was so so good to see Shani again. And it was so not good that Pat smashed his thumb badly just before all the company arrived. He thumbnail bed stayed intact but all around popped like a grape. It was and still is rather painful. Other than that and a moment when we thought our dogs were attacking Bennett it was a relaxed evening as well. 

Then Sunday we went to church. And on our way home Pat said let's swing past the Villa and pick up grandpa who was enthusiastic indeed. And then on our way past Sergio (the Ukrainian who works for Darc Loewen and has lived in Canada for 4 months) Pat wondered if we should swing in there too. And I was very grateful for the ham in my crockpot and sweet potatoes in the oven and leftover dessert. They stayed all day. And the boys invited Gil and Ed for the evening. 

Yesterday at 5:30 this vehicle drove up and here it was Aunt Ellen and Gil Chaisson and Grandpa and yes they would stay for supper and I was so grateful for two casseroles of leftovers that everyone deemed edible. And then Nathan came for the evening.

Today I worked in the shop with Pat. Just him and I. The boys were both working and Wyatt at school. We had a lot of fun stamping rods and packaging and counting. And singing. The shop echoes delightfully. 

Love 

Jo

PS Have you read the book Northern Nurse by Elliott Merrick? Its worth it. 

PPS I bought Arabella by Georgette Heyer on Audible. Now its on my list to acquire in paperback. You must read it sometime. 

PPPS Wyatt unearthed a Shel Silverstein book that I knew not about. He reads it and laughs and laughs and makes us all listen to the funny poems he's found.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

We had a colorful sunrise silhouetted behind the spruce trees this morning, golds and pinks against the black. Its hard to believe that it's October. The geese are starting to fly south. The other morning a flock of grouse landed on our lawn while passing through and the juncos are back. 

Sunday was our turn to stay home and it was so perfectly lovely outside. We took our speaker out and set up lawn chairs and listened on the deck. The boys brought Polly (short for Neopolitan) (the baby kitty) to the deck and we encouraged a time of bonding with the dogs. It was busy. We told the boys this was just a small idea of how much of the message you hear when you have a baby on your lap in church.

Life has been full; a Quacky Quilters day at Melanie's, a board ladies meeting to plan hot lunch, a meeting to mactac and stamp school books, a special-ed meeting, a birthday party for Alison, Sunday dinner at the Villa and a very lovely coffee with my dear sista. Then youth deals and singing and youth meeting for the boys. And the last supper with Jason's to celebrate harvest being done. Yippee!

Zach and I went to town one day. He can drive now, you know. Sometimes being a momma of teenage drivers feels very brave indeed. But he did well. And he found jeans that suit his fancy, which is something else to be thankful for. 

Love 

Jo

P.S. Wyatt now knows how to spell dagger and chimpanzee and Wednesday, thanks to Wordly Wise.

P.P.S. Wyatt received an Encyclopedia set (used, from Aunt Margaret) from his grandpa and grandma, at long last. 

P.P.P.S. Wyatt built a miniature house with a box he found. He  taped everything together with duct tape and made multitudes of windows. He sharpied a kitchen inside with me by the counter and even taped up a flashlight to read by. He barely fits in it but its a favorite spot.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

First off, I'm So stinkin' excited about these two brand new baby girls in my life!! Larry & Diana's little Vienna Beth was born on the 22nd and Justyn & Nicole's little Isla Saige was born on the 27th. I've shed a few tears of joy. Also, I got to go to a little New Grandma party for Jodi. And of course, I got to chat with you about Vienna. 

In another vein altogether, we've had a few crazy fiascos with coyotes here lately. Our dogs are quite the pair. Two different evenings this week they've got hold of a coyote and harassed the life out of them. Well, technically Colby shot the first one and Zach the second. But when Colby proposed that he'd help Wyatt shoot the third, should it perchance come around, my motherlyness overcame me and I said no. 

In the thick of all the things last week I rashly decided that it was time to clean out my closet, repaint, buy many baskets and cull the old clothes. Things are vastly improved; I just need to hang the shelves and put things away. Oh, and get another light fixture. Something other than the bare bulb hanging in there.

So there's that. And because everything is basking in the open spaces in our room, I decided to try on my running-away dress. It still fits (only because the style was so big and baggy) but mother!! The sleeve heads are ginormous!! And the shoulder pads an inch thick! And ooh, I laughed so hard! I wish I could have showed you!

LOL

Jo

P.S. I don't think I've evered mentioned any 'bird-disease' here. I just want you to know that I have a very odd red spot on my eye. It makes me feel special. 

P.P.S. More bird disease; I am sporting a large bruise on my leg from a hockey game (in my basement) I watched a while back. I consider myself an endangered species. Even told my boys so.

P.P.P.S. I hope its not too much to note that I have also taken up doing jumping jacks. The bird-disease related to this is personal.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

Good morning from the land of living skies! It's a perfectly gorgeous morning here, the sun glinting off the windows, the dew clinging to the tramp and the carpet of leaves thick on the grass. Autumn is boldly showing us its best.

I'm not going to tell you how busy I've been because reading back makes me tired even though in actuality I fly along in enjoyment. Today I'm making vegetable juice with tomatoes, onions, peppers and carrots from my garden. I got started on this years ago (a recipe Jodi recommended from kitchen treasures) and we Love using this juice in soups and casseroles, etc. And it adds such a homey fallish smell to the house. 

Also, I've been itching to get to some quilting and sewing again. The other day I realized that I'm subconsciously waiting for these two precious babies to be born, Diana's and Nicole's. 

We were at Arlens on Sunday and Brianna showed me the quilt she'd made for Nicole's baby. It's beautiful, triangles done in greys and a harvest green. They don't know if it's a boy or girl but Brianna is quite sure boy. 

Pat says harvest is about 60% done. He and Colby are fixing machinery this morning for Jason and heading out as soon as it dries off enough to get combining. 

Zach is busy helping Jeff with log work which is not his favorite but is surely growing perseverance and integrity in him.

Well, with these few thoughts I'll  close.

Love 

Jo

P.S. Wyatt is busy looking things up in the Encyclopedias in his spare time at school. 

P.P.S. For example, Jerusalem, vipers and fighter jets was just one days find.

P.P.P.S. Wyatt is now allowed to borrow books from the main school library and he is in his glory. He told Miss Esther he wants to read about history. And animals.

Tuesdays With Jo

Dear Mother Jaskey, 

The leaves are yellow and orange and the nights are crispy cold. Empty fields are polka-dotted with golden bales. Tractors and equipment rumble by long into the night. 

We ran a bit of a marathon this week, nothing serious. The first week of school is officially under the belt. Grandpa Esau spent the week in the hospital and our family all had the sniffles. I went to Cindy Unruh's one morning for coffee with Bren. And one hot evening we were invited out to the field for supper with the crew. One highlight was having Reece and Kale Isaac stop for Sunday afternoon and night. The youth and Rennies came for supper. Then after the boys left in the morning I headed to Delisle with a group of ladies and girls and we washed windows and cleaned house for Aunt Margaret Fehr. We ended up going for a late lunch together at Subway. And then we had board and teacher meeting in the evening in which I was responsible for lunch. 

I sometimes feel like I live and breathe food preparation. So one of my friends messaged me yesterday and said she'd made chocolate cream cheese cupcakes and could she send them for board meeting? I'll admit I got tears. I'm so grateful for lovely friends!

Also, we've had some really great laughter lately. We enthralled Aunt Margaret with tales of Lacey and Marci's program they got going Sunday evening with the youth. Lacey is a grand actress with an overflowing imagination. 

Today I'm resting on my laurels. I made BLT's for lunch for my men (yes they are All home) (except Wyatt) with tomatoes from my garden. I fried bacon while listening to the quartets from Sunday and I feel rejuvenated. I also got the cinnamon rolls on pans and cleaned my kitchen. 

Here's to another lovely autumn week! Courage to you and yours!

Love

Jo

P.S. Why do my cinnamon rolls rise so high and mighty in the centers?

P.P.S. We consumed at least 10 bags of chips in the last week. I say we loosely, it involved a lot of people. But still.

P.P.P.S. Viv just messaged and said she wants to bring us pizza for supper, a late birthday gift. How can I be so blessed?!