The Great GORP Project

for the farmers;)

Tis the season. . what can I say!? (This video was found on Farms.com, originally uploaded to Youtube by Farmsvideos:)

Sharing some awesome motivational stuff I've come across next post, along with some kickin protein powder and clean eating lunch ideas. .. I've fallen off my own bandwagon lately and its time to saddle up and get on this health kick/lifestyle again. . . healthy kick in the pants blog posts coming soon!!!

be mighty:)

. . Oh and find an adventure this long weekend. . .do somthing involving ACTION!! Let the brainstorming begin!

 

But. . it was so pretty. . .

 
It was so pretty. . so I ate it:)

Kinda the way I feel about chocolate covered almonds. . .oh and chips.

(I stumbled upon this photo on the National Geographic website. . you can find the original here.)

. . and yes. Stumble Upon is my latest addiction:)

 

spider cupcakes. . .

 

Sooo Georgia FINALLY got a party:) My first "official" kids party at my house. . .the first 7 years of her life I conned her into having "family parties" or inviting one friend out for a movie or something. .(I know, I'm terrible!) there was one "build-a-bear" party that snuck in and will never be repeated. . .kids parties scare me. .no clue why. . .but I get all anxious and weird. .. I think it might be because when little girls get together a hyper-crazed phenomena starts and they get all unpredictable and fizzy. . . I stayed up until midnight constructing spider cupcakes and hanging giant blow up bugs from every light fixture in the house. .I thought it was pretty awesome. . .until. . .

. .  the morning of the party I was feeling confident enough to go for a run, spider cup cakes were chilling in the fridge, decorations were hung, craft supplies set out, goody bags packed. . .but then 10 minutes before the party was supposed to start Grant turns into the party police and decides that I can't possibly have planned a party without . . .gasp. . CHEESY PARTY GAMES. . triple gasp. .. so then I panic and second guess my whole plan. .. I thought my mega craft-a-palooza and eating pizza was enough to fill 3 hours? Well, the worry was all for not. ..I was right:)

 

Spider cup cakes turned out awesome, thanks for the suggestions everyone:)

 

 

For the craft the girls were let loose on this table filled with every make and model of google eye, pom pom and pipe cleaner known to man, the challenge was to create the craziest spider/bug/monster possible! We then attached the monsters to long wooden dowels with invisible thread and the girls proceeded to run around the farmyard chasing each other with their creations. . no party games required:) I dare say the giant spider craft-a-palooza was a success!
 
 
Whew. It was a tonne of fun. . .I think this might be my party "gig" for the next 5 years. . .YES!

 
. . and what's a party without one of Aunty Ella's crocheted creations? My kids LOVE these vintage toys she whips up. . .even more than the Xbox. . score!

All day yesterday I was at an amazing Ag policy discussion event organized by MRAC, U of M, and the MFPA. . (translation: Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Food Processors Association) It was an industry and academia response to the CAPI (Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute) destination paper, I just LOVE discussion/debates about pretty much anything. . . especially Ag policy. . o.k. . .better stop typing before I ruin my reputation as a "cool mom";)

If you want to read the paper, you can find it here. .. it's not just for Aggies or policy heads. . it's food. . it's business, it's your health. . . if you eat you are entitled to an opinion. ..

It's a discussion on what needs to change in order for us to have. .

“the most successful good food systems on the planet.”

I think that's a pretty big deal.

Today: I'm attempting to put together a more formal launch plan for Gorp while distracting my teething baby boy. . :(

be mighty!

Mighty in the mail!

Look what squeaked in BEFORE the nasty Canada Post strike struck!

 

When my other kids were small I ordered them each one of these customized posters from one of my favourite local artists. Then when Moses came along I was mourning the fact that he would be the only kid without one. .. until Kal from Lovelife decided to offer them again. . .sweet! I chose the Rhino and the adjective MIGHTY (it just so happened my word of the year fit Moses completely;) and this beautiful glossy print arrived unscathed by the strike. .. there is something about seeing your own name in print. . .I gingerly pull out the posters from time to time for the kids to gawk over. . until I frame them properly I hide them away for safekeeping.

 

After writing to my daughter yesterday. . and seeing/hearing the response on facebook and here on my blog. .. it really got me thinking. . .

Man, all these kind vibes have given me an idea. . .I'll post about it soon:)

Part of what inspired me to write Georgia this letter was a brown crinkled note in the bottom of my keepsake box that was written to me 25 years ago (errr. .actually 29 argh!)it was from my Kindergarten teacher, she had taken the time to write down a few nice things about me and gave me the note at the end of the year (I had a hard time in Kindergarten, I was a bit of an odd duck and very emotional and she really went the extra mile for me). . I kept that letter, and still have it. . I remember taking it out and reading it as a teenager when I was going through hard times. . it grounded me somehow. . .when I came across it again the other day I was shocked at how many memories and warm feelings surfaced...something as simple as telling someone how you feel. .a simple encouragement. . . how far can it go?

I wanted Georgia to have something she could put in the bottom of her keepsake box. . .maybe she will pull it out when things are rough, maybe not. . but it will be there, and even if our relationship goes through those rocky seasons. . .it will be my voice expressing love to her even when she might not want to hear it from me at the time. . .

Soooo if you want one of those rad custom posters for someone you love, you can order them here!

My BIG IDEA. . is growing by the minute. ..work to do and a birthday party to plan. . any ideas on how to construct a cake that looks like a spider?? Don't know why I promised that feat of baking magic.  .but I did.  .shoot!

Oh. . and my sister is on a knitting rampage and has been making these crazy cute knit animals for my kids for their birthdays. . .I think they are brilliant:) (pic of flamingo coming tomorrow)

 

Roar!! Yup. . this one was for Leo our lion:)

be mighty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia Kaye. . .I will miss you when you're 8. . .

 

Dear 7 year old Georgia,

It was your birthday yesterday and at 3:30 you turned 8 years old. In the morning your brothers and I sang you awake to the tune of Happy Birthday. . even though you really weren't 8 years old yet! I reminded you to enjoy and love the last hours of being a 7 year old girl. . .Georgia I was so emotional all day, and I REALLY wanted to make you feel special, the plan was for you to wake up and look out your window to see the trampoline daddy and I picked up for you. . .but when we got home there was some farming stuff that came up and dad went out to help someone. . .and in a year like this, that's what you do. . your dad and I felt terrible that we couldn't have the present ready for you in the morning, so the new plan was to have it ready for you after school. . .but more of the same happened and it wasn't set up yet. . . so there would be no present for you to open on your big day. . .man did we ever feel like dorks. . . I did manage to make your requested birthday meal, hamburgers on the bbq. . but they were cold, cause I was having "one of those days" and even though daddy couldn't come in for supper and it was just you, me, Leo, Oz and momak (grandma), you were still so thankful . .. because that's how you are. God gave you a heart that is so kind it makes me want to cry. You took the time to notice every single little detail the boys put into their homemade cards. . .and you looked them in the eyes and genuinely thanked them, their eyes shine when you walk in the room my dear. .. not only because you are so imaginative and goofy and fun. . but because they feel loved when they are around you. . .you amaze me.

There are a few things you should know about the seven year old Georgia. . .you care intensely about truth, about doing what's right. When you see someone being treated unfairly at school it breaks your heart and you distress about how you can help them. . .your insight into the reasons behind the way people act is wisdom beyond your years and I'm astounded that you feel just as sorry for the bully as you do for the victim, even when the victim is you. You love to laugh and have a wildly goofy side that you keep well hidden until someone really gets to know you. And even though you care deeply about others. . you have a strength and resolve in you that allows you to march to the beat of your own drum, you won't be swayed to follow the crowd, even if it means you spend recess all by yourself. . .I am so proud of you. . .

Georgia, when you were born I was 26 years old. Having you was a turning point in my life, God took the opportunity to literally touch your mommy's heart and melt away some stubborn hard layers that had built up. You see when I was a little girl, I also cared very much about truth, but as time went on I began to care far too much about how other people saw me. . .and I began to try and please people and avoid hurting them even if it meant going against what I knew was right in my own heart. It took your mom a long time to learn that doing what people wanted her to do so they wouldn't be mad, sad, or disappointed wasn't really being kind. . .kindness is never rooted in fear. . .true kindness can only be rooted in love. . . as I grew into a young lady and met your dad. . I had learned some very hard lessons about being true to who I was instead of being a people pleaser. . .but when you came along I think God knew that it was His chance to touch my heart. . .you awoke in me a powerful resolve to become the kind of person that you would be proud to call mom. . .in the hospital I cried and cried and cried. The nurses thought something was wrong with me. . .and when they asked what the matter was. . all I could answer was that "I am just soooooo happy!" In the very moment I saw you, I made a decision to confront all the things I had let slip in my life and start over. To care only about being true, to doing what was right. . especially when nobody was looking. . .to not only hold myself accountable for what I did on the outside but for also what was going on in my head. . . so that someday you would have a mommy that was worth looking up to. When I think about you I am filled with warmth, I know this is a journey we are both on together as mother and daughter. . .and I don't know if I will ever become what I hope to, but know that I love you with everything that I am. I pray for wisdom in raising you all the time. . I desperately want to spare you some of the pain I walked through in my life. . .so sometimes I'm hard on you when I see things that remind me of myself. . I know you aren't me. . and that's awesome(!). . I will never judge you for your mistakes. . .(believe me!). . .my greatest ambition is to be the best mom to you that I'm capable of being. .. someday when you read this, I hope you don't think your mom is a big geeky dork, but even if that's the case. . I can take it as long as at the very least you see that when you were 7 years old. . your mom and dad loved you more than they could bear. . .we talk endlessly about you honey, we smile, we laugh, and I think your dad won't ever recover from the ache he feels when he thinks of anyone ever hurting you. . .

Seven year old Georgia. .. I will miss you terribly.

But to my Eight year old Georgia. . .I can hardly wait to see what this year brings:)

Love,

Mom

 

 

Bad pics from the cab. . .

 

 

This weekend was filled with fairs and fields. . .I gave myself one heck of a pep talk and carted all four kids to the Niverville fair. .. the first night I had my sister, bro-in-law and mom to help me, but all day Saturday was solo. . and breastfeeding. .. it was awesome. .and yes somewhat hellish all at the same time. . .and I was being slightly sarcastic when I said "awesome";) Now I know I wasn't the only one doing the one woman show routine, but somehow this year it just felt wrong. . .knowing my husband hasn't slept inside for days. . . he's been literally running round the clock trying to get the seed in the ground. Our livelihood. . .I sometimes feel useless/clueless as a farmers wife. . .I often tell Grant that he really should have married a good ole Mennonite gal. . .instead of this Irish chick. . .then maybe some homemade buns would make it out to the field, and she would probably know how to make that ohhhhh. . you know what I'm talking about, that deep fried dough stuff that goes with watermelon. . what's the name??? Whatever it is, it would probably be nice to surprise our awesome crew with on a hot dusty day. . .

During seeding and harvest when it's so busy, and stressful and rain is looming I tend to do a disappearing act, thinking in my head that I'm being super helpful by not being a bug and taking up his precious time. . but then forget that he may actually appreciate company or something(!). . .I'm learning. .. I still don't have this wife thing down yet. .never mind the "farmers wife" thing, and after a crazy run like this, it often hits me. . .too little too late. .. Colleen. . what the heck?. . .better get my butt in gear for harvest. . .

The countdown is on. . .the guys are hours away from finishing. . .we hopped in with Grant around supper hour and helped deliver meals to the crew. . .here are some cruddy pics I took from the cab of the truck. . not stellar by any means. .. but they carry with them an aura of victory. . .you just have to look hard enough;)

 
 
I couldn't resist taking this close up of the bull dog hood ornament on our MAC truck:) It just fit the mood for the evening. .. his defiant stature. . proudly pushing out his chest as the rain clouds circled. . BE VICTORIOUS. . .I can almost hear him growl. . .

This farming gig is something else. . .I am in awe of our hardworking crew and especially my crazy husband. I don't even know how it's physically possible for him to function on as little sleep as he does when he has to organize the logistics of seeding a 13000 acre farm. . .and the rain won't stop?? When he sees a window that guy can make tracks. . .I'm pretty sure the prayers for wisdom the kids pray for him every night are working:)

Every time I feel stress/fear starting to get a foothold in my thought-life, I combat it with the eternity perspective. . .wherever this life takes us. . .I don't care about anything more than being in God's will. If at the end of my life here I have ran the race with integrity and truly followed HIM, then that is the victory, the purpose and my salvation. I am excited to welcome whatever His plan is for our lives, no matter how hard it is. . .I would rather be clinging to Him in the storm than walking my own path. .

We will walk through trials, but His burden is light. . .it's a promise. Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you:) Yup. . .time to let that one sink in. . .

I still don't hear tractors rumbling back to the yard, but I also don't hear rain drops on the windows. . .(!)

Unlike my husband, I don't have super powers, so this farm wife is hitting the hay. . .dreaming dreams of exponentially effective heat units raining down on our late seeded crops. . AMEN!

The internet stole my post? And how to write a mission statement that doesn't suck!

Ahhhhhh!!! I just spent close to 40 minutes painstakingly crafting an informational post on my experience participating in my first strategic planning workshop, I'm a director on the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC) and Masterkey Business Solutions came in and led us through a major mindstretching brainstorming process to help us generate a strategic plan. . .of course I always have my Gorp hat on and was super excited at all the concepts I laid hold of that day. . and I sooooo wanted to share them with you. .. but after the unforeseen and insanely frustrating theft of my words that just occurred due to my dumb computer. .. I'm toast. . .I don't have the energy to re-type and re-think and re-produce my lost post:(

I'll find the motivation to do it again, because I picked up some pretty rad nuggets and tidbits of inspiration stimulating awesomeness. . .but alas, there is laundry to be done, babies to nurse and an insanely messy office to organize. . .so I will leave you with this bit of food for thought:

Wayne from Masterkey Business Solutions gave us permission to share and steal and spread his content and links (thanks Wayne!). He shared this video(from FastCompany), so I'll do the easy thing today and leave you with a you tube link;)

. . .while you are watching. .. think about this. . DO YOU HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT?? A PERSONAL ONE? HOW ABOUT ONE FOR YOUR FAMILY??? Or does your business mission statement need to be tossed?

hmmmm. .. !!

 

After watching this, I think I REALLY need to reshape Gorp's mission statement. . .I'm also totally inspired to come up with a mission statement for our family! Why not? We do it in business. . .couldn't we also benefit from a strategic family focus? Hmmmm. . what do you think? I think we actually just stumbled onto something kinda awesome. . .

. . .the family mission statement. . . yup. I think this calls for a meeting:)

be mighty!

Assiniboine Park Children's Garden! Yay Winnipeg:)

 
 
 
 
 
I just can't say enough about the new Children's Garden at Assiniboine Park. . .The first time I saw it in full bloom after the grand opening I had to use every ounce of willpower to stop myself from openly applauding. . .then skipping and running through the darn place like an overgrown ape-like child. . .instead I contained myself, although I couldn't do anything about the stupid grin plastered across my chops. . or the many random outbursts declaring (to nobody in particular) THIS PLACE IS FLIPPING FANTASTIC!!!

I'm not just saying this because we happen to be partners in the company responsible for constructing some of the amazing installations out of reclaimed wood. .. ahem. . cough. .Wood Anchor. . .cough!

The best part about the "thinking" that must have been invested into the design of the garden was that unlike a giant "McDonald's Play-land" full of so much distraction that kids are overwhelmed and can barely think straight, the Assiniboine Park Children's Garden built into the design. .. room for IMAGINATION !! There is room for space(if that makes sense?). . .room for imaginary play. . .and the flow incorporates opportunities for discovering the unexpected. .. I LOVE the organic flavour. . .this granola loving gal gives it 2 thumbs up with a side of Whooopeeeee!!

This week has been packed full of "stuff". . .yesterday I attended a workshop on Strategic Planning. . .and it blew my mind. .. in more than the figurative sense. . .my head is still aching. . .I think I might have blown a fuse. . .but that's alright. .stretching right?? I'm putting together a short summary of some of the neat take-aways from the lesson plan. I'll share next post. . .tonight my dear Georgia competes for her yellow belt in Taekwondo, and right now I've got a 3 year old on my lap requesting some reading time. .. so off I go!

Rock out. be mighty and make someones day. . .do something EXTRA kind, just because it's Wednesday:)

1-800- WHAT THE?

 
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My enviro-ink stamped business card that is now garbage:(

So, one of those hallmark moments when starting your own business is when you get your very own phone number!!! All of a sudden you feel one step closer to the real deal. . .THEN you go ahead and get a TOLL FREE number and it feels like you are legit. . like Donald Trump might be calling in the next day or so. ..you know, to ask for advice on how to negotiate his latest deal;)

Well I thought I'd be all smart and cheeky and get one of those custom 800 numbers that spell something so people can remember it. . .So after many failed attempts at figuring out how to spell something awesome with the numbers available we came up with 1-877- EAT-GORP:) Yup. . .I was feeling like the neighbourhood genius. . .UNTIL. The phone started to ring. . .oh the first say 100 times I'd blast downstairs tripping over myself and cheerfully belt into the phone. . ."THE GREAT GORP PROJECT. . COLLEEN SPEAKING!!!!!!!" I couldn't believe the sucker was actually ringing?? I hadn't advertised yet. . had people somehow found me online and just couldn't wait to get their hands on my awesome energy bars?? The answer was yes. . .about 2 people. And I love that, and am thankful and am soooo glad they called, but something fishy was going on. . . .The other 500 callers (whose calls I was paying for I might add. . .and who called at all hours of the night. . .) were less than honest about who exactly they were trying to get a hold of. . .when I'd ask who they were calling it was like I was interogating them. . they would, stammer, lie, and hang up. . .the best were the ones who would "accidentally" call again. . the ones who claimed they were calling their sister. .. AT AN 800 NUMBER? AT 4 IN THE MORNING??? WHAT THE? Either your sister is working for an infomercial selling some kick butt juicer, slicer, dicer or ab roller. .. .or she's a psychic, or phone sex worker. . in which case you shouldn't be phoning your sister anyways. .. creepers. Man.

Sooooo began my obsession with decoding my own personal 1-800 mystery. I stopped answering the phone with my oh so friendly "gorp voice", instead I started trying to lure the callers into identifying themselves by being very vague and mumbling my greeting.  .. hoping to trick them into slipping up. . .sometimes I'd just pick up the receiver and listen. . hoping to catch some conversation on the other end of the line that would expose these sly snakes. . .it was all to no avail. . .these folks were pros. . .they caught me every time. . and either hung up or made up some see through excuse as to why they were about to hang up. .. INFURIATING. . .then I started begging and pleading them to tell me. .. STILL NOTHING. Grant in all his wisdom started to spell alternate possibilities with the letters. .. all he came up with was 1-877- FAT-HOPE. . .I don't know what he was getting at with that. .. but I think I'm insulted;)

In the end. . "they" won. I got tired of paying for this crazy game of cat and mouse. . .whoever these folks were calling. . they were obviously embarrassed about it. . .were they phoning a "naughty line"? I can't figure it out. .. I will never know, because I switched my 800 number to 1-855-EAT-GORP. I guess I better re-train myself to answer the phone in a more civilized manner. .. just so you know, if you ever phone and hear me on the other end yelling "who are you. .. what do you want. .. tell me, oh please tell me NOW!!!! I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a little grace;))

Old habits die hard:)

Today is Sunday. . .the sun is shining and I better blast outside to play with the clan, there are mega dinosaur nests to be constructed and dogs to chase and hop scotching to scotch? Or so I'm told!

Happy Weekend!

 

strange sadness. . .

 

The other night I was lying in bed listening to the rain pelt against the house and the wind howl. . I couldn't sleep. . .so I prayed. . .then after that I did what any normal person would do at 2 a.m. and reached over, grabbed my blackberry and started going through my contacts and deleting duplicates??? Yeah, don't ask! But my heart was bothered and subconsciously I knew what I was looking for. . .I knew this moment would come, and I've been avoiding it. It's probably going to sound cheesy. . .and what a testament to our changing culture, but there needs to be some new terminology created for technology induced situations like the one I'm about to describe. . .but I digress. . .

For some reason, I find it intensely emotional to delete people who have died from the contact list in my phone and email. . .it weirds me out. . I don't know why. . it just seems like I am somehow taking part in erasing them. . .AND I HATE THAT. Please don't call the loony bin on me. . .this is normal right??

That night I came across my dad's contact info. . he died 9 months ago from ALS. And as I was lying there, listening to the blasted rain fall on our unseeded fields. . .worry eating at the edges of my mind. . .knowing I was about to launch Gorp and feeling very alone. . .I felt an intense physical ache at the thought of deleting my dad. . .the man who passed on my LOVE of business. . .the desire to serve God and make a difference. . .the vision of forging the entrepreneurs path. . .I wanted to call him so badly. The last 10 years my relationship with my dad was a complicated one. . .to say the least. .. but he raised me with much love, he implanted in me a confidence that I could do anything I set my mind to. . .I still find myself wanting/needing him to be proud of me. . .it makes me feel ashamed and embarrassed at how badly I still need to know if he was. . .

Today my ingredient bins came. . .and as I was excitedly unpacking the boxes in the basement I was transported back to the shipping department of Word Alive, my dad's book distribution business he started out of our basement when I was a kid. . .I was his shipper/receiver for all my highschool years. . .tears flowed. . .I hadn't seen the parallel before. . how foolish. . .but here I was. . doing EXACTLY what I had watched him do. . I remember when he packed the first box that would go out with a PRINTED (not handwritten) label! I can vividly see him standing in our cruddy basement in Toronto, holding up this tiny box with the biggest smile plastered across his face:) I was 11 and I was very proud of him. I didn't realize until now, how much I actually wanted him to see me with my first order packed and ready to ship with that spookily similar smile plastered across my face. . .weird.

.. . long story short. . .I deleted my dad. And somehow I let something go that I had been hanging on to. A wish of something that will never be.

Rest in peace dad. I miss you.

. . .now it's time to move on. . .the spot that a dad fills in his daughters life is a spot that God is more than capable of stepping into. . .I just have to learn to let Him.