Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You! --Dr Seuss

Hello peeps!

This will be picture heavy as I try to catch you up!
Also, I'm only here cause I got sidetracked....
I'm supposed to be updating & printing off the AVON for taxes!
I also, cannot find a picture of a card I want to show you!

Ahhhhh, we'll start with the mountains of poppycock made for peeps, co-workers etc.!

 

I altered this container and filled it with poppycock,

of course there's no 'after' picture!

 

 

Moon one afternoon on my way to town!

 

 

Ugly sweaters....

we got em!

 

 

Fun & games at Christmas with the cousins!

Check!

R.I.P. Buster.

Still makes me sad.....

we had to put him down between Christmas & New Years.

 

It is supposed to warm up here this week...

to plus something!

 

I have a dentist appointment next Monday so they can put in the permanent crown.

I WILL be shopping!

I got $1000.00 in gift cards from my bosses for Christmas!

 

My family & I started the 52 Week Money Challenge.......

It's not too late.

We started the first Saturday in Jan.

Now there's a lot of controversy about this.

I just read that the later weeks in December,

 when you're supposed to be saving the most money a week

 is when money's the tightest.

That makes sense to me; another blog goes on to say,

every week, decide how much you can put away, and cross that week off!

Anyhoo, the outcome is the same........about $1400.00 at Christmas time!

WOOT WOOT!

Although, I never have Christmas 'bills',

I'm a year round shopper!

Think of the Scrap stuff I could NEED!

 

Kalen is quitting the military.

He's registered for classes at Olds college.

He told me when I was there in August that he gets incredibly homesick.

He wants to be able to come home for a weekend if he wants!

He says it's very challenging in the Navy right now.

Nothing is going on, no one needs them, and everyone still needs training etc.

They are listing their townhouse in Victoria this month.

I think he'll be listing his house in town in April, unless his sister moves in!

 

My latest knitting project got put on hold because the store didn't have the wool

It's ok, I'm still knitting a scarf for myself!

 

It snowed 2 inches a minute yesterday, I shoveled 3 times!

I guess that was our heavy snowfall warning for the night before!

The snowblower crapped out on Christmas Day,

and will probably sit on the path until logging is done!

 

Christmas got packed up & the last of it put away during the week!

Just the snowmen get to stay out.

 

There's a moose hanging out in the yard again,

tasting everything...........

I haven't seen him............yet!

 

I baked & cleaned drawers yesterday; in between shoveling!

 

Vanessa's making Chili for supper today, I'll make the bread & the salad!

 

We've merged with another company.......

OI! I thought I was busy before....

We just had a meeting for the 3 year plan..........

It's actually kinda exciting.....don't tell anyone I said that!!

 

Alrighty, I DO have stuff on my desk.

I may get to it this afternoon!

After the laundry & stuff!

 

Hope you're well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!!!

 

 

We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference. --Nelson Mandela

 

 

Hope you all have your preparations under control for tomorrow!

Team Gail and the Zombie Apocolypse comes to mind again this past week!

Kalen's home, I'll ask him about it!

 

I was on 'Special Projects' at work last Friday, and took my friend Buster to the vet in Grimshaw.

He's been limping.

He has a rapidly progressing bone cancer.

I said, "I'm going to text them that, cause I doubt I can spit it out without bawling".

The vet started crying! AND her assistant!

I said, "You're not helping"!

Buster has a whole whack of pain killers;  I'm not sure they're working!

 

One of our friends sister had a baby last Thursday, and had to be flown to Edmonton.

He left in a hurry to pick up his mom, and they drove down.

He's the guy with 2 dogs & 2 cats in the house, and is not a great house keeper!

I went over there 3-4 times on the weekend since Friday.

I finished his dishes on Sunday!

Everything's put away, he'll either have to phone me, or look for stuff!

I'm on about load 30 for the laundry.

I'm only doing the stuff on the laundry room floor!

Last night Kalen & I got an accordian file folder, and will organize his mail sitting around.

I've only cleaned up his kitchen............

If he's gone another 2-3 days, I'll have the laundry under control!

I also made a To-Do list........

Vanessa laughed when she saw it on his fridge!

 

2 other friends are away for Christmas, and I'm feeding the cats & outside birds....

good thing they live across the street from each other!

 

Did I mention it's been -30 below for the last couple weeks!?

Shadow slept in the entry for a week!

Even though she has a cosy house & heated bed!

It's a balmy -2 right now!

 

Avon came yesterday, Kalen & I delivered most of it last night.

Vanessa met us downtown & took some!

The rest will be delivered this morning!

 

I couldn't get into my email this morning!

Had to change my password!

 

Kalen should be home this morning, he was out with friends last night and the night before.

He's in charge of the hors d'oeuvres for this afternoon; we're getting company!

Vanessa had to go to work this morning.

I decided I'm not!

Our payroll cut off is tomorrow, Christmas Day.

The guys will text me when all the time is in, and I'll go in Friday or Saturday and just do that!

 

The turkey is brining.

I'll do up the potatoes, yams, dessert & cranberries today.

I think Ray's sisters & families might be over to dine with us tomorrow.

(They're so last minute! I just cook!)

Thursday we're going to have a sleep over with some friends in Joussard!

 

Have a wonderful Christmas with loved ones, and all the best for 2014!

I'm hoping to do some crafting (like that'll happen), over the weekend!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!



There are moments when everything goes well, but don't be frightened. - Jules Renard

Hello peeps!
How are you on this snowy cold morning!?

I have pictures for you.......of course I do!

Here's bad Shadow coming down the drive way as I come home!

 

I don't want her on the main road chasing vehicles!

 

Here's the mutt I put up with at work!

A very scary Buster!

 

Seriously!?

I must be boring!

 

Here's the baby card I made for Vanessas' friend!

Outside's great!

On the inside I put,

"SPIT HAPPENS!"

hahahahaha

 

 

This is the scarf I made for one of my peeps that didn't get one at Christmas!

The snowman is a kleenex box cover, and she's a hoarder collector of snowmen!

I'm just helping out the cause!

 

In other news:

it's snowing!

OMG!

 

I have stew in the slow cooker, bread in the machine, laundry in the washer, dishes are done.

Ray's gone to work.

I am (in 5 minutes) going to get dressed........I.KNOW!

And go out to fill the bird feeders,

water & feed the cats & Shadow,

fill the wood furnace,

and fire up the snow blower!

 

I have 2 projects on the go on my desk, and I can't find a die I want to use on a card,

so will be digging for that when I come in!

They DO (the dies) have their own spot.....someone must not have put it away!?WTH!

I might have to haul the Christmas paper box back out, maybe it ended up in there!

I've already dug through the garbage!!!!

I need a better system for my stamps, so was working on that before Ray got up.

Also organizing the chipboard letters I have...............

who knew I had so many..............

I see using them on everything in the near future!

 

Hope you're well!

Have a great weekend!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

With our love, we could save the world. --George Harrison

Good Morning!

The world didn't end.....my cousin in Austrailia told us it was 'business as usual', as she left us hanging cause she was having a massage! haha

We had a wonderful, cold Christmas!
Would have been better if Kalen was here, but he did call from the ship, and everyone talked to him!

I was spoiled, as usual!
Gotta tell ya the highlights!
I got a $1,000.00 travel vouchure from  my bosses!
When I thanked them for it, I told them it was right up there with the tickets the kids got me to go see Emerson Drive, Doc Walker & Aaron Pritchett!!!!!

I worked Thursday & Friday, and will work Monday!

My mom had called Sunday, and asked about brining the turkey;.......get on the internet & look it up, and call me back....hahahaha!
So I did, we did,

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/turkey-brine/

http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/11/how-to-brine-a-turkey/

turned out great; don't put the stuffing in it, the gravy was awesome!
Didn't have to add anything!
I just used what was in my pantry, and I'd do it again!

Had trifle for dessert!

We ate too much, laughed too hard, played games, and the kids even took out the skidoos Christmas Day, in -30 something with the windchill!
Ya know you're from Canada when...............

 

They got all dressed up, and we asked if they went to the bathroom!

My gf was here, and she said kids should be sent out on the step, before you get them all dressed up, cause when that cold air hits them........................

She's the same gf who said, "You've got Christmas everywhere, and no tree!"

See, no one really missed it!

And one less headache and stresser for me!

(Hahahaha that rhymes!)

 

Vanessa was babysitting her cousins dog over Christmas, her name is Reese!

She didn't stay long when wanting out!

Someone had to dress up and go with her, or she wouldn't get off the step!

I. KNOW!

A dog in the house; she was no trouble!

 

 

Here's Buster at work, knawing on road kill!

I told B there was half a dinosaur out my office window!

Ya know yur a redneck when you give your pet half the animal for a bone!

 

 

Shadow's been loving her heated dog bed already this year I can tell you!

Last year she slept outside, cause it was too warm for her!

 

It's on the upward swing, days getting longer!

I see this morning it's only -6!

OMG, it'll feel tropical out compared to what we've had!

I better go, get ready to go to town.

I'm delivering AVON, and looking after houses for 2 gf's!

Ya, I know!

What was I thinkin!

I hate intensly dislike going to town, on weekends & holidays, unless I'm going to something!

I'll get over it!

 

Ray hurt his back; thinks he's 20;

 pulled something putting a humongous log in the wood furnace!

Yeah, I know you're thinking 'how convenient';

but he really did, he's got drugs & everything!

 

My mission today is to pull some snow off the roof!

(Which was Rays' mission, until he screwed that up!)

We have a handy dandy thing called a 'roof rake'!

It's awesome, as long as the snow is not packed!

 

Anyhoo, I made a card for my gfs stepdad who had a heart attack just before Christmas:

 

 

 

He's a John Deere man!

Farmed forever, still has a tractor or 2!

Hence the John Deere green!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks to my blog friends that sent me cards & stuff! You know who you are!
I appreciate it!

Happy New Year everyone......just in case I don't get on here again before then!
Hope you're all well!
Ta ta for now!

Light tomorrow with today. --Elizabeth Barret Browning

Hello peeps!
Hope you're all well!
I have a minute, maybe 10; and I am drinking a beer, but thinking about going to blow snow!
I did get the Advent baby gift delivered this week!
It was a BIG hit, and they were excited for the weekend (today) to start!!!

Monday this week I had an FCSS (Family & Community Support Services).
It was short & sweet so did dinner with a friend!

Tuesday was a FOML (Friends of the Manning Library).
That was short & sweet too, and afterwards we had a whine wine & snack get together with the Library Board.
This was my contribution + a bottle of Two Colors wine from Dr. Zen Zen.
These are 2 Bite Cheesecake, and Rum Balls

 

Earlier this week I saw this guy!

 

Not the same as the Hogwarts Owl last year, but maybe someone's cousin!

 

Buster thought I was working too hard one day, and strolled into my office,

and flopped his head on my knee!

Or maybe he just wanted a little TLC!

 

 

WE let him in the office to thaw out on cold days, cause he won't go in the shop.

 

These guys were on the road!

It's SNOWING again, so the least snow is on the road!

 

 

 

The weather forecast shows no snow for Thursday!?
THURSDAY!? SERIOUSLY!? 
WhooptyFreakinDo! OY!

I did Happy Hour at the Old Folks Home last night. And it WAS happy!

This morning was a funeral for one of my old friends from the OFH!

He was the one who took an alarm clock to a picnic, cause his watch broke.
The alarm wouldn't shut off!

He sat behind me on the bus, and told EVERYONE that would listen that I drove 100 mph.
We're metric here people....he just didn't get that memo! We had a talk!
He also didn't get to sit in the seat behind me anymore!

I have a ton more stories; I tried to be sad, but we'd just get the giggles.

He had a tiny framed picture of him & I that sat at his place in the dining room when I quit!
He showed it to me one day.
Me: "Where are we?"
Him: "Idunno"
Me: "What are we doing?"
Him: "Idunno"
Me: "Well we're sure happy!"

The family's going to give it to me!

I was an honorary pallbearer, and it WAS an honor!
I think he was autistic (somewhat), also obsessive compulsive, I learned a lot of patience with him;
he was exasperating at times, but always made me smile!
I'll miss him! He was 84.

I came home and made 3 batches of poppycock!

One of Vanessa friends in Vancouver wrote this about it earlier this week!

Yaaay!!! Haha. Gail, are you making poppycock this year? If so, I would love to place an order. Its not Christmas without your poppycock!! Xo
You're the best! I rave about your poppycock here!!!
That's how much I love it. Whatever you can do...no pressure. I'll live without if you can't. Totally OK! :-)

I left out the part about how it must be laced with CRACK cause that's how addictive it is!
GAWD!
Anyhoo, as you can see, there's no pressure (yeah right), so I got right on it!
Gonna mail it out on Monday, cause he's not coming home for Christmas.

Finally we got the snow removal flag down to the end of the driveway, BEFORE the grader went by, and here he is!!!!

 

I was so happy to see him, I ran outside with a bag of poppycock for him too!

Tis the season after all!

 

I DID make a card this week; when you ask?

.........Must have been in my sleep!

I have to make the kids different Christmas cards this year (usually I make them the same);

they post them on Facebook these days!

Not sure if it's a competition or what!

 

I still want to make a Thank You for Kalen & his friends for hanging out with me while I was there!

 

Anyhoo, here's the card!

 

 

I got the inspiration over here!

I have a few more cards in my pointed little head,

but I really think I'm going to fire up the snow blower!

 

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.- William Arthur Ward

Good evening!
How is everyone!?

Think I'm caught up for a minute!
Just until tomorrow when Vanessa comes for a sleep over, and makes me watch Breaking Dawn!
Not like I haven't read all the books people!

Lookit this!
It's getting light when I go to work!
Makes me smile!

I gotta quit taking pictures while I'm driving!

Just asking for a ticket!

I did the Thank You cards last weekend!

Remember I opened my big mouth about appreciating volunteers!?

And, we owed the theatre a Thank You for the goody coupons for a movie when the FOL helped with Daddy & Me!

I'm really happy with how this one turned out!

I used the filmstrip die, and I had the little heart just sitting around from making Valentine cards!

This is the inside, and I used a huge star paper clip to keep the tickets together in the card!

These are the Thank Yous I whipped up for the volunteers that helped at the casino; then realized I needed one more! Just dug one out of the stash!

Here's my pimped out iPad cover!

Shouldn't loose it under papers now!

Here's the view in my rear view mirror Tuesday afternoon!

I had to take Buster to the vet.

He lives at my job!

Got in a fight, and was bleeding & limping pretty good!

This fall under, "These and any other duties as assigned."!!

REally; he likes me, and will willingly go anywhere with me!

In fact he didn't want to get out of the van!

I told my boss...."I have a birthday party to go to at 4:30!"

Boss: "Better get ready."

Me: "Oh I'm ready!

Dog drool....CHECK!

Dog hair......CHECK!

I probably even smell like the dog!

It's all good!"

PS:

UPDATE/Feb. 25/12

Buster's fine!

He got some drugs, worm pills and cleaned up....now has to learn to stay home and out of trouble!

Yesterday he was still moving a little slowly, and sprawled out in front of the office door, but still wagged his tail when I talked to him!

 I went out last night with other gf's!

Then delivered some Avon!

I'm ready to stay home for a minute or 2!

I watched Julie & Julia on the weekend while I was in my room!

I recommend it!

Really cute movie!

Here's one of the cats bird watching!

hahahaha!

That's one of the bird baths laying on the ground.

I don't want it to get water in it, freeze & split!

Hakuna Matata people!

The cat catches a bird, Shadow puts the run on the cat, goes back for the bird,  the bird usually gets away!

I'm working on a Cascading card!

I just e-mailed Sonia and she sent me the instructions!

Check out her blog....it's amazing!

I want to thank you followers that e-mail & call me!

I really enjoy chatting with you!

I also enjoy checking out your blogs!

Keep up the good work!

Better go, talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

“Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say.- Alice Walker

Well, it's still smokey here today, and dry!
Some of the province wide fire ban has been lifted, but not here!
It's pretty dry, and freezing at night this week!

I DID get the yardwork done on the weekend, but I didn't plant the rest of the garden...Thank God!
Maybe tomorrow or Thursday night!
I've been hauling my bedding plants in at night!
I HAVE been baking for the 'wedding party' of one of my bosses this weekend!
I'll see if I can get some pics!

Bonnie, I tried to comment on your comment & couldn't!?
The one where I said I hated sticky, smelly bug spray for mosquitos.
And you told me about some mechanical thing that clips to a person.
I couldn't comment on my.own.blog!
I'll have to check out the bug spray aisle next time I'm in the hardware store!
I DO have some bracelets, but wear them around my ankle cause the smell is atrocious!

I had supper out with the GF's cause it's P's birthday tomorrow.
She loves birthdays, cause she gets a home made card from me! hahahaha!

So, I got some blog candy last week! From here!

There are 5 pads of Martha Stewart paper!OMG!

Thanks Michelle!

I also made this card.

(Not with any blog candy)

I actually had some unused Samantha Walker stamps! OMG!

And the paper was out, cause I'd used it a while ago, and I like it, and I guess I only bought 1 (one)!?

I planted my petunias on the weekend.

I kicked Jerry the cat out of my chair on one of my trips to sit outside.

This is how far she moved!

This planter is right behind the chair!

I don't pull the old stuff out of the planters when it dies because this is what the cats do!

They sit in my planters!

The planters were on the list to be painted this year, but it didn't happen!

Remember my friend Buster from work?!

I talked about him HERE! And in an earlier post, but I can't find it.

Don't worry, I have been putting labels (when I don't forget!)!

They never show up when I view the blog though!

Well...he has a chicken!

The farm next door to my work raises all sorts of chickens & birds, and once in a while there's a mess of feathers outside....hmmmm.......but Buster.....he LIKES this chicken!?

It's like it's his pet!? WTH!

This picture is not really blurry...I DID say it was another smokey day!

Better go, gotta fix my lunch for tomorrow!

Talk to ya later....have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Ta ta for now!