Ah Saturday!

I was really hoping to get outside this weekend and start raking the lawns but it's not very nice. So I think it will have to wait. I hate the wind, and it just makes it that much colder, and I'm not into cold at this time of year. May just have to head to the mall and look at pretty spring clothes or something. The girls emailed from Vietnam and are really liking the country and it's history. They went to a beautiful area called Nha Trang and Jane said it was sooooo clean and the food was fantastic. The beaches had the whitest sand, and the people were genuinely nice. So that's good to hear, now they are in Hoi An, a quaint old Vietnamese town with lots of European influence in the rebuilds. I googled it and it is very nice looking with beautiful scenery.

My soldier comes home this coming Thursday! Daniel has 5 days leave before he is shipped off to Manitoba for more training. I think he will be there for 16 weeks. So I will be cooking turkey, ham, steak, hamburgers, and whatever else his little heart desires. Finally a reason to cook. I love cooking but with only the two of us around here, we hardly need to eat big meals every night. Soup is a main stay most nights, or scrambled eggs.....but it will be nice to do some bigger meals for him. It's also Leanne's birthday on the 3rd so I am going to have them for dinner on Friday, turkey night. I wonder is she would like a birthday cake with that many candles on it??? Do you think? No, best not, she may get me back!

So I have done very little this morning, besides watching design shows, watching curling, drink coffee and eat hot cross buns. Ah you gotta love the weekend. So I best get this show on the road and head out. Car needs washing and a trip to the mall is in order. Enjoy your weekend.

Project Finished

I finally finished my "mirror project", my oh my, it took "A LOT" of glue! And you know how you get all those long glue hairs....Oh my goodness! They were everywhere, just like spider webs but better feeling than that thank goodness! This will be a gift for one of my daughters, and then of course if the other wants one I will be doing another. It was fun, so I won't mind, many, many shells are needed. Hokey Doodle?!!?!!

I had to put wax paper over the mirror otherwise the glare would have ruined the picture. Saw that little tip somewhere.....

Tomorrow is a day off of work. Yippee! I love Pro D days! I think there should be one a month, Kids need mental health breaks too. I know it was just Spring Break but it wasn't nearly long enough and thank goodness it is Easter next week because then we have two short weeks again! Gee I guess I sound a little too excited don't I. Well there are flower beds to clean up and lawns to rake after all.....have a good night!

Spring has Arrived!

Well technically Spring has sprung, not so much when you look at the temperatures. But that's ok, you can't have it all. Or can you? Mmmmmm.... The snow is gone and the grass is greening up nicely. I happened to find a few tulips poking their heads through the ground.


Saturday, the sun came out and that meant pulling out the front porch chairs. Hope fully next weekend we'll be able to have coffee out there. In the meantime, we'll dream about it! I was thinking pots of pink and purple flowers with a splash of yellow. I must remember to take my pots out to the Greenhouses to have them planted this year. They turned out absolutely gorgeous last year. Steve is thinking that too!



I was quite productive on the weekend despite Women's World Curling starting, as usual Jenny Jones is playing fantastic! I finished my craft project, picked up a "new" pair of ballet flats!! Whoop! Whoop!
Trish is home from Mexico and we ran a short 5km today. My feet felt not too bad. But just to be on the safe side, I am going to Physio a few more times this week. I am keeping them taped, and having acupuncture again. You can't be too pro-active. I mean really, they do have to carry you around day in and day out...Stayed tuned tomorrow...have a good evening!

St. Paddy's Day

Well with the luck of the Irish I hope this is a good year for everyone. Spring is on it's way but it is sure taking it's time. My cousin is doing all sorts of yard work and getting things ready but I would say we are a few weeks away yet before we can comfortably get out and rake yards, fluff flower beds, haul dirt, etc. Seemed really cold with the wind today, but the sun finally came out later in the day but it doesn't do much then.

I had to tell my son about his friend today that was seriously hurt last week in Afghanistan......I really hope we are done with this mission soon. There is no need for us to be over there. Those people will fight for what they think is right till their death, and it doesn't matter what we do, say or try to teach them will change matters. I just feel really sad for Daniel's friend and his family.



I am working on a project right now and I think it will be very pretty. Just a few more hours of the glue gun and I think I will be done. Thanks to Gigi for her insight and wonderful inspiration. I just hope it doesn't fall apart when I am done or try to move it!...But I think I have an idea to solidfy it.



A wee touch of Spring to remind you of summer flowers.

Anyway, that's all for today. Thank goodness it is almost the end of the week! Have a good evening.

Espe Purse and Baking

How do you like it? I saw it yesterday at the Shhhhh Store and it called my name...it's so cute...

Daylight savings came upon us early this year and I don't know why but I thought it was going to be lighter in the morning earlier but no it's the other way around. Blonde moment......So this morning when I got up at 7, it was really 6 so I guess the time change didn;t really phase on me, but I got an early start on the day and managed to accomplish quite a bit, that would be because I go back to work tomorrow of course. So I did some more baking with the machine....I love this thing....it doesn't get any easier than this and the product is soooooo good!



So I made four batches of dough, and got 3 pans of cinnamon buns and some hot cross buns but I must admit, I wasn't happy with the hot cross buns, partly my fault for letting them rise way to high and they sort of became a loaf.....still tasty but not what you would envision....next time.



I actually made them last night so that I would have them for my Sunday breakfast...I love bread and it really loves my hips so I don't usually give in but oh what the heck! Then this morning I made another big batch for the kids next door, I'm sure Susan would have liked to kill me but hey I didn't twist her arm, she could just ignore them......but I know she couldn't!



Then I thought I should make some cookies and get ahead of the game....these will go in the freezer for a later day.



Also went and had a haircut and color this afternoon. Good for a few months again.


Too funny I know!!! If you can't laugh at yourself, it would be a sad place. Anyway back to the Canucks game. Good night!

Procrastination at its best

I think I am one of the worst bloggers, I guess writing everyday is harder than it looks. I've thought about it many times but I have been in a funk all week, so I didn't get very far. Maybe that's what happens when you have all the time in the world, you procrastinate.....I don't think I should retire....could you imagine? Yikes! I work far more efficiently when I am under a deadline. I did go out everyday and do things....Trish and I ran on Wednesday...not too exciting, it was my birthday so I had to run,it was really windy and not much fun until we headed the other way. But we started going to the pool and water running. Now that is exciting! NOT! She tried to get out of it but it's good to cross train. We can't run everyday, but we do need to use different muscles.
But with Trish away next week, I think it is the perfect timing to rest my foot and go swimming and water running. Of course I will make Larry come with me, I need my swimming coach. I went to lunch a few times and that was very nice of my friends. I wanted to go on a small road trip but that idea got squashed...oh well another time. But I did go out and take a few pictures in our backyard and I call these the ravages of winter....

I especially like this one...you can guess what it is.

So I promise I will have a few things to write about this week. The girls are in Cambodia, Tor is on his way home, and not in a healthy way, he got sick a few days ago and still wasn't feeling well when he boarded the plane....poor guy....Daniel came in from the field, he was weapons training and they think that they will be transferred to Shilo in a month.....Que cera,cera....have a good evening. I'll be back soon!

There...that's done

So the day started off with great promise. Sarcasm! Not only did I wake up continually all night, my feet hurt, and my legs ached from the 2 hour run....I know my own fault....not the point. Well anyway, you know how sometimes you have a job to do and you always find a reason why you "don't" want to do it. Well, I had this one wall in our family room that has needed to be painted for well over a year now. Not only did it need to be painted I had filled holes and those tell tale signs were glaring at me every time I walked into the room. So today being the "first" real day off of Spring Break, I made it my mission to "get it done"! It's not that I don't like to paint, my friends would laugh at that one, but it's all the "prep" work that it involves. The cleaning off of walls, the filling of holes, getting stuff out of the way.....oh the list goes on and on. Then before you can really start rolling, you have to "cut in". I hate cutting in!!!!





The only high point of the day was "The Brier" was on at 6:30 am and went all day. Some can't understand the appeal of curling but I happen to really enjoy it. My mom and I can sit on either end of the phone and watch them throw rocks and make comments....I know weird....that's curling you either love it or refer it to it in the same category as watching grass grow. Anyway, I am not the tidiest painter, I just like to get it done.



I make a mess, thank goodness for latex paint! One thing leads to another, and well the walls get painted, the floors and windows get washed, and everything gets vacuumed.




Soooo......that was my day, tomorrow Trish and I are heading to the pool for a fun hour of water running! Have a good evening.

Something to Think about....

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

1.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

2.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

3.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

4.When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a Higher Power I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

5.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

6.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

7.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

8.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

9.When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

10.When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

11.When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Just something to think about when you go to bed tonight.......

Not so much....

I know absolutely nothing about computers and each time I try to fiddle with settings and such, I manage to mess things up. I will have to work on this blogging business in order to not turn things upside down. So another exciting day around here. No running today, I am saving myself for a 2 hour run on Sunday. I must be out of my mind but Joanne said we can cut out anytime and head back, I just might. I went into Stride and Glide today and talked to Cory about shoes and I am going in there on Tuesday to see if I can get something different that might help with the foot pain and plantar fascitis. To say that I am fed up is not doing it justice.

So today was spent cleaning house in the morning, and then I thought I would head to town and go to a few places. Ha! I think every man, woman and child was downtown, at the mall, Costco, Walmart, and even the library, so needless to say I said to heck with this and went home. I know boring but I wasn't in any mood to put up with line ups and people pushing and shoving and kids crying. So for now I am heading to bed so that I am ready and raring to go in the morning. zzzzzzzzz

The Winners are......

These are just half of the ribbons they picked up. Marc wasn't sure where his were. But that's another story........

The boys went to their first swim meet on the weekend and cleaned up in their age bracket. They have become quite the little swimmers. I am sure their sister will not be far behind, Ava was moved up a level yesterday so she will be very happy.

Ava loves to swim and she will be a contender. She is very competitive and when she starts going to meets, I am positive the ribbons will be in abundance! And she is just so darn cute!

Spring is in the air, and the street sweepers are out. So it must be close. Yea!

One of my Passions.........

I know everyone has a passion for things that they do, their work, foods, and such. Well I have a passion for coffee. I love pretty coffee cups, flavoured coffees, rich blends, dark roast, phou phou girly coffees, that pretty much covers the coffee I have experienced. I really like cappuccinos, and I am soooo excited that my mom is getting me a cappuccino maker. Spoiled, yes I know. I will admit it. I think the smell of fresh brewed coffee is a little like heaven. Mmmmmmmmmm......ahhhhhhhh.....nothing like that first whiff early in the morning when I wake up to go running at the awful hour of 4:30 but as soon as I smell the coffee, I have no problem getting up.

I'm really looking forward to getting this coffee maker, it makes one cup at a time, and the coffee comes in tiny packets the size of restaurant creamers, it just seems so decadent. I don't like to drink too much coffee but now and then, it's the best pick me upper in the day......until tomorrow...good nite!

We are Golden

Well I just don't know what I'll do with all my time now that the Olympics are over....wasn't that a great end to the event with Canada getting record gold medals. I have to admit I wasn't too confident in Lou's abilities but he hung in there and made us proud. Now back to Prime Time TV. I've missed my shows and I am desperately in need of some creative time. Mindless knitting and cross stitch are almost finished.


Our little forest friends came for a visit on Saturday and stayed awhile. They are so cute but very scared when people try to get close. I tried to give them some lettuce and carrots but they ran up the bank.


Our snow is quickly melting, and I think the buds will be coming out soon. I haven't seen any flowers but it must be soon. I will have to take my camera everywhere I go in case I spot a daffodil or crocus poking it's head out.

March 1st, and Monday morning. Wow where does the time go. The girls are busy backpacking around Thailand and will be heading to Bangkok today. I don't think they will stay there too long cause it is such a huge city. I think 3 months is too long to be over there but that's their plan, I think the money will run out and once Tor leaves Kait won't be far behind.....but I could be wrong.

We went for a 90 minute run yesterday, I can't say it killed me but close, and then Joanne is on a program which she had to do a 30 minutes bike ride so I came home and did the same. I have my bike set up in the dining room on the trainer. There are parts of me today that are a little sore. But you know Spring is not far off. Have a great day!