Don't shoot the Messenger

Ok forgive me, for I do not know what came over me....................

Life is good. Don’t you think? I mean honestly, we all have days when you think things could be a little better here and there ……but overall really it’s pretty good. I mean compared to a lot of people I consider myself truly fortunate. I have my health, my family, a job, my crafts, my running and good, good friends. I like my friends; they bring me inspiration and comfort on rainy days, cloudy days, and make a little sunshine each day. Friends are important in our lives, I know women don’t usually have that problem, but men need to have a few also. I have friends that I have known for a very long time, and some that have have known for a short time, sometimes we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like but if they’re really true friends time doesn’t factor into the friendship. I like my friends because we can just pick up where we left off, and not skip a beat. That is true friendship. Makes it hard thou, all that jabber talking and  talking the faster than we can think, but it all balances out.

Nechako River

I feel sometimes when things are a little too quiet, those are the days when you should just sit back and reflect on the things that truly give you comfort and happiness and be thankful. After running our 10 km this morning it was very cool……but you know what? It felt good to be alive. I know, what fool would like to get up at 4:30 in the morning and head out the door at 5:30 in 4’C weather and consider that fun! Well this fool! Because I know I will feel 10 times better for it later in the day. Oh ya, I will be tired and it will be a chore not to dose off this afternoon while the kids watch their movie, but I know that I did something good for myself and my friend was along side of me comparing notes on our last few days. Problems will be solved, venting will be done, revelations commended. The best part of running today is I get to sleep in tomorrow till 5:30! So onward we go through the week.

Beautiful Fall Afternoon

A trip is needed to Michaels. I hear they are almost sold out of white pumpkins and I must get a few so that I can get my entry display done.

And so there you have it, another day above ground. Yes, life is good. A little crafting, a little run, and day with good friends. Could it be any better! I think not...have a good night.

Mmmmm.....Apparently not!

Well Trish and I made an amazing discovery today. One we had been pondering for quite sometime. This morning as we hummed and haw'd about what kind of day it was going to be, we threw caution to the wind and went for our run. We stayed around town and didn't venture out to the Greenway, as there has been toooo many bear sightings and moose sightings for these city chicks! We were all decked out in our rain gear with hopes that it would stop raining before we actually started. The run started out just right just light sprinkle, not bad at all. Of course after the wind storm all night and down pour that echoed in our ears from the night, we took off. Well.... I had not looked at the temperature as it has been around 6'C most of the mornings,  if today it was not 14'C.......a little over dressed that's for sure. So the coat got taken off and tied around the waist. Sleeves were shoved up and away we went, it was really quite pleasant running with just a sprinkle. And theeee most amazing thing happened! We didn't melt! Apparently.....we are not made of sugar and did not melt! Phffff! Sure glad that myth has been disspelled......Here we thought all along we would simply disappear one morning. Well we had a good run, and made it back to Tim's much to our dismay, soaking wet, shoes squishing, hats sodden and still not dry. It was a lot of fun! We did our usual critiquing of houses and their decor, solving our decorating dilemma's etc. And sussing out new projects for the rest of the weekend. No time for coffee this morning, so we grabbed a few cups each and headed home to hot showers. So one can just never tell when they are going to have an "AHA" moment. Hmmmffff go figure!



Another awesome Pumpkin Topiary courtesy of Southern Living Magazine

Have a good Sunday. Rest day tomorrow, and back at it Monday morning. Enjoy!

Pumpkins Galore!

I really wish that I liked Halloween but to tell you the truth I don't like the combination of orange and black, something very disturbing about it...eeek. But I do love pumpkins, all sorts of pumpkins, white pumpkins, green pumpkins, you name it I love 'em! I've been reading many blogs and the decorating ideas that are out there mostly with the imitation but some are the real McCoy. Pumpkins are just so homey and fallish......the real pumpkins aren't in the grocery stores yet, but with Christmas not far off, I am hoping that the plastic ones will start going on sale because NEXT year I have some sooo cute ideas that I want to do. I mean really what is so appealing about Halloween and ghosts, and witches. I think it's ugly and all those kids running around the streets. Like they need candy.....isn't there an obesity problem in our society, not to mention the safety issues of them darting back and forth across the streets. Weirdos putting drugs and dangerous objects in the packages. Sickos! Can you tell I wasn't big on Halloween when my kids were little. Spare me.....they never want to wear the cute costumes you want them to wear, more the ugly ghoulish bloody gore.....or Super heroes, what happened too cute! Even when I was a kid, I did not like having to dress up. Ok so I must be weird.....but I still like pumpkins, gourds and decorating for Autumn. And I love to cook anything that has pumpkin in it...Yum! I have a recipe for Pumpkin Biscotti. I will give it a try this weekend. Here is a darling pumpkin decor idea. I think this would look very special at the front door on top of the urn planter...yes indeedy!



Pumpkin Topiary

I had a few other ideas saved but something is up with blogger and is not allowing me to upload some of the photos. But there are some great ideas and as long as it involves pumpkins and pretty, I am on board. There are a few ideas with Candy Corn that are very cute but I could see the decorations disappearing before my eyes! Anyway all is well around here, back among the living after a bout with a Kleenex box, NyQuil and bottle of vitamin c. And since I like to share, the Hubs has it for the weekend. Trish and I will run tomorrow and hopefully the wind and rain will quit by morning, otherwise it's not going to happen. After all sugar melts, don't ya know! Have a good weekend. Happy crafting! And if you can, get out there and RUN!

It is what it is........

I had planned on posting a few photos of the trail run we did Saturday morning but note to self and I really should know better and that is why I am "not" as photographer by profession. You know I have a blackberry, well I thought it would be good enough to take some photos along the trails.......you know smaller, easier to carry in my pouch...yada.... yada......well they didn't come out good at all! Blurry.....I should have known better blah, blah, blah, so needless to say there are no pictures. The photos would have been good because it was a beautiful run, a perfect Fall morning, the leaves were gorgeous and the forest was amazing.  But unfortunately....there were a few along on the run that did not share the same thoughts, in fact I would venture to say that trail running will not be high on their priority...... it was actually quite funny at the time....but without any pictures you will just have to take my word for it, and from now on Trish says I am on my own if I want to bush whack! Then to top it off, there are a whole new group of muscles that get a work out trail running....So other than some sore legs and an almost loss of a friend.....it was a decent run.  But not to be repeated anytime soon.

A peak at my next project.....have a good night!

A Perfect Fall Morning

This morning was a perfect Fall morning, the air was crisp, cool, the sun and blue skies were shining. There are a few streets that I pass on my way to work that the trees outline the street. One area by the park is my dream street. I would like to live on this street because it is sooooo pretty and the houses are very quaint. But unfortunately that won't happen in this lifetime. Not that I want to move but I looove this part of town.

This area of town is very unique and some of the houses date way back. But I love how the trees frame the street. I like to run in these areas because there is always something to look at and admire.

When the trees turn golden, the whole world takes on a glow. Gone are the hot summer days, cooler Autumn mornings are a gift. The earth is rejuvenated from the scorching heat and the lawns turn green once again. The moisture from the rain is soaked up by the trees going into hibernation. Yup, Fall is my kind of season. Sweaters, boots, jeans, scarves, layers to bundle up and take off as the day warms up. All we need is the smell of burning leaves, and roasting apples......

The Yellowhead Bridge in the background is a nemesis of a lot of runners. But once conquered, it is an exhilarating feat! Tomorrow.... Trish, Joanne and Nancy and I are off to run the trails of Otway. Have a good evening. I hope your last few days of summer are as beautiful as these...........

Ramblin's of a Runner

I Run Because…..




I run because I love it,  for dark chocolate, to be healthy, be fit, eat pasta, pumpkin lattes, look good in skinny jeans, run up stairs, feel younger, be happy, less stressed, breathe deeper, have fun, go the extra mile, push the limits, go hard, feel life, I run for myself.

Running is hard, no doubt about it. But on the mornings when the last thing I want to do is get out of bed at 4:30 am, I get up, have my coffee, toast with peanut butter. Put on my running clothes, Mizunos, GPS watch and head out the door. Some days it’s the first 5km that are the hardest and other days it’s the last 5km. Somedays it's just the whole run. But each day brings new challenges, longer hills, faster paces, further distances, longer times, and new conversations with friends along the way. Creative thoughts that come while running in the rain, dark mornings are my favourite time to run.

When the dawn is breaking, the sun starts to rise, the world is waking up, people are heading to work and I am feeling all moist from sweat and flushed, I know I am alive. I look forward to running in the cold winter mornings, seeing my breath, feeling like the only person in the world, revelling in the solitude and peace that comes with the fresh fallen snow. Call me crazy, call me addicted, that I am. I am happy I found this addiction, happy that I can finally call myself a runner. It hasn’t always been that way and granted there are days when it just doesn’t happen but the majority of the time once I am out, it’s all a better place to be.

See what I mean rambling......tomorrow is another day on the road....have a good night!

Fall at Last!

When things return to normal (LOL) around here after the summer, I cannot wait to put out my Fall decorations. I don't like Halloween as my friends will attest too, but I do love the colors of Autumn. So today I put the finishing touches on our family room, and whipped up a Fall pillow. Not to mention I found this wild color of orange I just had to paint the coffee table.....after all it is only paint. The label says it is "Antique Red" but I'll be a monkeys aunt if that's red. But even the Hubs said he liked it......I must be rubbing off on him after all this time! Poor guy! So that has been my project this weekend. Have a look see and see what you think!

It's not red in my books more like a burnt orange or rust, I painted the stars to match and the peonies were bought that way.

I know!  I have never seen peonies this color either, but it works.

The once was blue, then red, then black, now antique red star.

Tablescape

Ahhhhh, jellied pumpkins..........yum!

The token Scarecrow, and the berries in the cement leaf bowl are the "most" amazing apple pie fragrance from J.J. Springer, oh my goodness they smell good enough to eat.

Then today I searched "The Graphic Fairy" for a pumpkin image that I could transfer some how onto a pillow but to no avail. So finally I found this image and just free handed it onto .....of course drop cloth. I think it looks quite beautiful.

So that's it, that's all for today. Yesterday was spent doing the neighbourhood garage sale and I will say now it is the last one I am doing ever.  Did I mention I do not like garage sale-ing.....I now know why. Oh Lordy!

Anyway my crafting today and the peace and solitude of the afternoon went hand in hand . It was a wonderful day start to finish, even if I jammed cause of rain this morning and didn't run. I will make up for it tomorrow. And yes!! I am made out of sugar! Good Night!

Techno Geek

Well the day came when I finally had to get a new phone, well okay didn't have too, wanted too. Since the soldier got his own plan out in Manitoba, I thought I might as well upgrade, and drop him off my plan. Little do they tell you when you do such things.......the cell phone business is probably the one of the biggest rip-offs of the century but we cannot live without them any more than we could live without chocolate! Anywho, I got myself a new phone and believe you me when I tell you I am a "techo illiterate geek". I had to call my son and get him to explain some of the features because as good as the Bell representive was, I was still a t....a....d confused. Must be the blonde hair. So I got a Blackberry Curve, cute? Yes indeedy! Do I know how to work all the features.......hmmmffff not a chance. So I will need an in depth course just like when I learned how to text!

I thought I should have one of those IPhone 4's but the Bell guy did his best to discourage me, he probably gets a commission when he sells Blackberry...Whatever, I don't care it does way more than I need to know how to do but I will probably really like it when someone who can take the time will explain it all to me.....and possibly a very large glass of wine. So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Today was my first day back at work, and I have to admit it does feel good. Like the Hubs says I need to quit renovating for awhile and just go to work. I didn't think it was possible to get burnt out but it seems like all my creative mojo has taken a vacation away from my mind and soul. But I am certain it shall return. Until then, I will just play with my phone and learn not to be such a techo geek!

Labour Day Classic Run

No, I did not run in the Labour Day Classic, I do not enter races as I always end up getting hurt. It must be a psychological thing. Anyway, I do have some rambuncious kids next door that love to go in races.

Ava waiting for the start with Dad.

Marc waiting at start line

This was the end, they both did really well running the 1km. Marcs time was under 4 minutes and Ava wasn't too far behind. Cookie medals for participants.

Next came the 5km and the 8.5 mile run. Susan and Quin ran the 5km. And afterwards we think that if not for a few sidelines Quin could have been a contender for first. But he came 6th in the Bantam class which really isn't fair as the age went all the way up to 18. They really need to change how they organize the ages. Regardless Quin's time was awesome and we were all very proud of him. This was only the 3rd time he has ran 5 km. his time was around 25 minutes....pretty darn good if you ask me. There would be "no way" I could go that far that fast. Maybe in 30 minutes but not 25......Pretty sure.

Happy ending to a well run race. Good job Quin and Susan!

So today was Labour Day as well as our darling Kaitlin's Birthday. Yes, she was born on Labour Day but I can't say that it was all that labourous. Easy peasy actually. Happy Birthday Kitty! Best wishes and love always Mom and Dad

Took a trip back.....

Not much was happening around here this weekend, just chilling. So we took a drive out to the valley to have a look around. Our house is still standing but it doesn't look like it did when we lived there. I don't think she is much of a yard/gardener, and I guess that's what happens when you go back to your old houses. No one ever seems to look after them the way you did and it's kind of sad. We really enjoyed living in the country and I know our kids benefited from it, because they all miss country life. So roots are important in the development of their little minds and bodies.

Salmon Valley house

Salmon  Valley Elementary

All our kids went to this school and it is hard to believe that they closed it last June. A lot of time was spent here. Many Airband Performances, Christmas Concerts, Sports Days.....yup kind of sad the kids have to go to town now. Country schools give your kids a good start in life. Unless of course they have a bad few years with teachers that should move on. But that's another thorn in my side.  They do survive, the kids that is. Barely........And they move on to bigger and better venues.

So we took a drive around and looked at all the friends places and property we frequented. Times change and by the looks of some places not very gracefully did some of the places age. I can't understand why people let their places go. I am happy to say I am glad we moved to town when we did, I love my house in town and not having to drive that highway everyday. Too far to town and too many trips.

So Saturday was a good day, Trish and I pushed our limits and ran 17km, it felt fine and we didn't suffer any ill effects during the day, other than hunger and tiredness. That was our longest run in a very long time as we don't want any injuries.  It was good to know we can run that far and for 1:45.  We are changing our running schedule this week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and one day on the weekend for a bit longer. This will encourage us to eat properly and drink lots of water during the day. Today was the Labour Day Classic and I will post those photos of the kids shortly. Quin, Marc and Ava did great! Oh and Susan too! See ya!

Just Adorable!

Well there I was sitting on the couch, recovering from a morning at the dentist after having some minor surgery, getting a tooth extracted and a bridge prep.  Not a fun time, no sireee....I am not a fan of dentistry but you do what you have to do, to keep those pearly whites. At least that's what I keep telling myself. So to pass the time, I was talking to my Mom on the phone and enjoying a cup of coffee. When low and behold I looked out in the backyard and there was a mother black bear and her two cubs.

One brown baby and one black baby

Well they spent quite a bit of time roaming around but the one little black guy was in a pickle cause he couldn't figure out how to get out of the backyard . Mom and the brown cub went over the fence but Blacky was betwixt and between and a tad worried...especially with a strange being taking photos.

He couldn't figure out for the life of him how he was suppose to get over the wire fence.

But eventually he figured it out but by this time mom had gotten over the next fence and was devouring a tree full of apples. I mean really how many times do people have to be told to get rid of the apples.  These people are regularly visited by bears, so I sure hope from their stupidity it doesn't get these guys killed. Not the bears fault if there is a bushel and a peck of food just waiting for them.

Starting to panic!

He was scared of me taking photos of him, so he climbed the tree.

Browny was playing around, whilst his brother or sister figured the fence out.

Mom was pretty big, shiny black and a rather large derriere but I am sure if I posed a threat she could have caught me, even with her large butt! But she was bent on finding food, so she wasn't hanging around the yard.  She knew where she was going!

Her kids were pacing back and forth below the fenced yard she was in so she thought she should get back over to the other side, she did take a look at Quin and I and then hightailed it back to her kids.

When Quin and I were watching the little guys, they were prancing around on their hind legs wondering how the dickens Mom had gotten away on them. But she wasn't far away. She made her return so back they came into the neighbors yard. They took a breather before hiking over the fence, where they sat in the bush  figuring where they should head to next.

I know they are dangerous  but they were so darn adorable, especially the babies. The mom, not so much but she was a beauty.  Besides really,  we are living in their way to food and water.  I was pretty confident I didn't pose a threat to them and Mom knew I wasn't going to hurt her babies. So that was my excitement for the afternoon and 35 shots of bears that I won't bore you with. Well I hope your day was a thrilling as mine. Minus the dentist of course, wouldn't wish that on any of my friends! Have a good one!