The Country Mice

Hands up if you’re this flexible.

First we start with a couple of photos, early shots of 2010.

Just to say where we’ve been, before we get into where we’re going.

First week back at school in January we got a day off school. Parent-teacher interviews.

Recalcitrant Mother took the children to the AGO instead for the King Tut exhibit. The Princess in some oh-that’s-so-five-millennia-ago accessories.

A simply stunning ski Saturday at Mount St. Louis. So nice to have my tuned and sharpened skis on after the rental units in Panorama.

Fun paint application from my iPhone. Guilty pleasure, technology.

Equally goofy product by one or other of the back-seat artists on the way to somewhere.

That’s the January wrap-up.

Thanks for dinner, Mary and Tim.

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.

If you haven’t got a penny a ha-penny will do.

If you haven’t got a ha-penny, God bless you!

Hey, kid! Fix that pencil grip!

That’s better.

Thanks.

I learned that little ditty when I was in Kindergarten from our teacher, Mrs. Knudson. Her first name was Margaret.

Back then — 1964 if you must know — it was very special to have connived knowledge of a teacher’s first name.

These days knowledge of teachers’ first names is de rigeur.

In the meantime, such discussions are relegated to the sidelines as we complete our spelling homework.

And in fact, I’m less concerned with homework than I am with playing with a camera in low-light situations, sans flash.

Homeboy, however, is gloating over the fact he has no homework.

None. And he can smile.

Because The Mother knows he’s going to get nailed in just a wee few hours.

The Assignment That Ends All Assignments.

And I’ll be there.

Sans flash.

Our school’s Peace Concert last night.

A beautiful tribute to teachers and students collaborating, creating, co-operating.

One of the special aspects of a tiny country school.

Homeboy here got to exercise his inner Bill Wyman with Mr. P’s School of Rock.

Some clarifications required: Geeky plaid shorts because his class had an Australian theme (well, that takes care of the shorts; Homeboy is geeky all on his own). Black leather tap shoes because Homeboy later evolves into an east-coast step-dancin’ machine.

The Princess pops into the photoshoot in swim trunks and bare feet. Outside it’s minus-seven with a minus-20 windchill.

The show begins at precisely 7 p.m. with an entourage of 3-5 year olds taking the stage. Mrs. M repeatedly whispers, somewhat greater than sotto voce for the can-can dancer to drop her skirt. Nah. Not when she’s in full spotlight.

The enthusiasm and joy are pure and unadulterated. The children garble away en francais, not a clue to what they’re reciting in La Neige but it’s perfect in its innocence.

The ninth day of Christmas.

The Princess played a recorder duet — Oh Come All Ye Faithful. More like Oh Come All Ye Who Practised. And that narrowed it to two.

The Big Lugs came out on stage later with their tenor saxaphones, trumpets, clarinets, flutes and drum kits, minus the cute red-and-white dresses and sweater vests.

Parents of the younger children were several times reminded that *this* was in their future. Not sure how many took the message seriously.

Embrace every minute.

That’s what I say.

Outside the snow is just beginning to fall.

The weather stations report a “big one” is coming. School children can only hope.

I like the first cloudy hours of a snowfall — the world in black and white.

In the meantime, a summer flower transmogrified for the winter scene I imagine in my head.

Time for flannel sheets and a hot water bottle.