If you want to be happy, be. -Leo Tolstoy

Hello, thought I should get back into practice!

I made a Birthday card before I left, and haven't posted yet!
It's a 'guy' card, and was well received!

Been working in the yard, and at the house in town.
I'll have to find a 'before' Picture.
The deck on the house in town was 40' long, and 10' wide.
Faces south.
No one used it.
We're cutting almost half off, putting lattice around the bottom (darn cats!), and putting up a gazebo, for shade.
It will be lovely!!!
Hoping to finish it tomorrow, if it doesn't rain!
The gazebo comes Wednesday!

Our fireworks for Canada Day were a big hit!
Everyone brought a package.
We lined up spectator chairs; set the fireworks up by the dugout, and waited for dark.
Who knew there was so much smoke!
It was already foggy!
The only one who didn't enjoy them was Shadow, she turned into a large lap dog!!
We know for next time! She'll be going in the porch!

Better go, I came in here to make a couple cards!

Hope you're all well!
Talk to ya later!
Ta ta for now!

When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot. --Dalai Lama

Hello peeps!
Hope you're having a great weekend!

Welcome Dana, not sure if you'll learn anything here, but you might get a laugh or two!

WARNING: Picture heavy post.

 

These flowers showed up on my desk one day!
Me: "Is it my birthday"?
Boss: "NO"!
Me: "Hmmm, Easter's over...........what's the occasion"?
Boss: "Happy Administrative Professionals Week"!

Friday of that week I was sending emails to another boss ( I now have 5).........
Boss: "What are you doing"?
Me: " Forwarding emails".
Boss: "Just send them......"
Me: "I'm taking all the crap out so he doesn't get confused; I'm such a good secretary"!
Boss: "I. KNOW! That's why you got flowers"!
hahahaha, it's great to be appreciated!
I also got a bonus last week.............I'm LOVING my job!

Anyhoo.........that's at work!

The weather's been crappy..............
This comes to mind!



It snowed and/or rained for 4 days.............

 

My usual 10 minute drive to work took 1/2 hour on these roads!

 

 

The yard...............

 

My heavy bridge I built last fall; no one thought would move...........

 

We had to sandbag at Kalens house..........

The gutters were falling off the house next door/ to the right.......

I "borrowed" them!

We need to do some serious landscaping back there to get the water to stay off the cement pad that's up there to the right.

It needs to be built up by the house & forced to go LEFT!!!

It's on the list!

 

 

The reno's are moving slowly!
Every time we do something, we find something else............
Oh well, no one said it would be easy!
Pulled the carpet up in the orange room, and found water stains..........
It's all dry, but I'm hesitant to put the laminate down.

 

The bathroom is next door to the left,

it will get a tub surround.

Vanessa's in the process of taking over the mortgage payments from her brother.

I told her my contract was up when I did what I told Kalen I would do.

Didn't mean I wouldn't help...................

I've stopped going there on weekends.

Cause I'm tired, and I need to get my own stuff done!

 

Last Saturday night Ray & I went to Peace River to see Calvin Vollrath!

It was wonderful, and a welcome break!

 

The bottle tree got installed in it's home last Sunday in the cold & the MUCK!

(See, not a leaf in sight!)

 

 

Shadow got her annual hair cut & pedicure yesterday!

 

Before:

I think she's talking back!

 

 

After:

 

 

I plugged her bed back in so she wouldn't freeze!

 

Yesterday I scrapbooked (finally) the pictures we got at Christmas to get rid of THIS:

 

 

Sat in my kitchen for a few weeks!

Doesn't matter that I used one of these:

 

 

Hahahaha, oh well, they're done & cleaned up!

I'm going to get dressed & make cookies, the kids will be here later for

'Sunday Supper'!

 

Ray's working, he hauls 1 load of gravel a day, takes about 5 hours,

and that's about all he feels like doing.

Has another doctors appointment this week

His sister's been taking him.

They got more tests back;

he needs testostorone shots,

his levels are down and it was explained that it would be like PMS-ing ALL.THE.TIME.

That would explain the moods!

He also has to get his sugar intake under control NOW before it turns into diabeties.

He's supposed to eat 3 "normal" meals a day, and no snacking!

At least not on junk food!

And STOP adding 1/2 a cup of sugar to each cup of coffee!

I've been making Refrigerator Porridge for him for breakfast;

on today's menu is Blackberry & Honey!

I'm not a porridge person, but I even tried it, and didn't mind it!

He warms his up for 30 seconds.

 

So there you have 'The Rest of the Story'!

Ha, you're caught up!

I might even get to play in the craft room today............

We'll see!

 

Have a great week people!

Hope you're all 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!



Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don't want. ---Abraham

I dunno where to start people!

Maybe with Happy Thanksgiving my Canadian peeps!!

We've had a $hitty week LITERALLY!

Ray's been under the weather ( I thought he was getting fat & lazy), and finally went to a doctor 2 weeks ago.
Apparently, we have about 11 pints of blood at any given time making it's rounds through our bodies.
Ray had 6.8.
3 double (500 mls) blood tranfusions later, and a colonoscopy this past Wednesday, he feels human!
The doctor cauterized a whack of 'bleeders' (?) and Ray will go for a repeat in 2 months.
The surgeon's not sure he got them all.
That might have been where the blood was going.
Which made him really short of breath, and unable to do anything.
He NEVER said anything people....I was just getting more frustrated by the day!

Then our  sewer backs up!
Yoi! One of the perks at my job is that we're on the list of many homes every couple years to get it pumped out.
Hahaha, some perk hey!
Anyhoo, the sewer guy was here last week, and he must have knocked the pump over or something...........I have a pair of gloves on the step outside that will probably go in the garbage, and my jeans & coat are in the washer!

Our woodshed is empty, so today Ray went and cut a bunch of trees down & hauled them just behind the cat house.
I was working on cutting them up, hauling them in the handy dandy quad trailer, and putting them in the woodshed.
I got the damn chainsaw stuck, and hurt my back trying to get it out!
I could've cried!
If it snows as early as it did last year, we're screwed!
I came in, had a peanut butter & jam sandwich so I could take a pain killer, turned the dish washer on, and went to my jacuzzi!

Ray went to get the few things on my grocery list, and beer!

Now I'm talking to you, drinking a beverage (Yeah it's alcoholic), and eating popcorn.
I'm sure I just moved funny, and will be back at it (slowly) tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow, I'm cooking the turkey!
Vanessa and a couple of her 'homeless' friends are coming, and my friend Peggy from town.

Before I went out to play today, I got 2 (two) Double Layer Pumpkin Pies done.
The Potatoes Extrordinaire, and the sweet potato casserole are done!
The turkey's marinating; I would have had the cranberries done too, but didn't have an orange!
The ingredients are out for stuffing and baked corn..........I'm in business!
Vanessa's bringing buns, the rest will bring wine, it's all good!

I've been working on these for all my peeps!

 

They have goodies in the middle, and hot chocolate or tea in the other side!

I have 6 more to go!

 

I AM working on a couple cards for challenges,

and I DID get  to Michaels while Ray was in the hospital.

Cause we went to Grande Prairie!

 

We have camo leaves!

 

 

This crane was all by itself one day in a hay field.

 

 

Then it took off!

 

 

The bridge is DUN!

 

 

Shadow approves!

 

Plumber is coming next week to put heat trace on the water line so I shouldn't have to EVER worry about it! EV-AH!

Unless of course it's leaking, and a guy phoned Wednesday to tell me he fixed it.

I'll have to crawl under there tomorrow or Monday and check,

cause the last time they told me that.

It. Wasn't!

The electrician ordered parts for the wood furnace, so it's not on yet.

Another electrician made up a heat trace for me to put under the skylight so I don't have to clean that off either!

If only I could figure out how to attach it so it'll stay!

 

So there you have the latest (sort of) from the occasional blogger!

I have been visiting.............

Just haven't had a minute to do my own!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

In all the chaos stay focused on your dreams. --Vanessa McLean

Good morning!
You were going to get a twofer last night, but I was too tired.
How tired was I?
WELL, I didn't realize until this morning that I posted my HM creation (previous post), and didn't link it up at the HMFMC til now! OI!

I know I've been remiss about blogging.................
can I just say the summer's too short, and I really like to spend time outside while I can!
I even napped on my swing last evening; it's my favorite place in the yard!

I've cleaned my desk off, made some cards, which I will get to so you can get on with your day, and I'd also like to welcome Mary Ann! Don't know if you'll learn anything, but you might get a laugh or two!

Also, can you please go over here and send Curt some love!?
He's hurtin and hasn't posted for 2 months.
I miss him!
And, my friend Bonnie over here, lost 2 furbabies within 5 weeks of each other.
She does have a new little one to help fill the holes in her heart; Bugsy!

Alrighty then; I made these cards for someone.
I have another 3 to go, and I can't say who,
cause I think they read the blog; darn followers by e-mail!
Anyone know how I can see who they are????

ANYHOO.........................

 

 

I made this encouragement card for a Rodeo Queen wannabe!?

She is! (Second from left!)

 

 

My strawberries are happy in their garden.............

building them their own box is on the agenda for this weekend.

They are so sweet!

 

 

It's been cloudy here most of the week, and rains at least once a day in the vacinity!

 

 

Sitting in the swing enjoying the birds, there's a birdbath to the right, and the Robins really like it!

 

 

Shadow smiling for a bellyrub!

 

 

I went to Peace River last Saturday; picked up Vanessa, then we spent the day at a swim meet, watching the middle grandchild! (Long Story)

His mom liked that we came, made the day go faster for her!

 

 

It's hard to get a picture of them swimming, but pretty sure that's his coach in the blue!

 

 

Here's a field of Canola right across from where I work.

The tracks are from the sprayer.

You know;

"The crop is genetically modified for control of the weeds"!?

 

 

That's all I got!

Working on a mini album for my mom with pictures from last years Family Rebellion.

 

It's supposed to rain today, so the dusting & vacuming might get done.

I want to start on the strawberry bed;

some nasty wasps have made a nest in some of the lumber I'm using.

Yup..................More of this!

 

Hope you're well.

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. -William Feather

Oh bother, another beverage is order!
Long, picture heavy post!

I'll show you the quilled sunflower first, then you can continue blog surfing!
Don't feel obligated to finish the post!
This needs a sentiment, but I'll have to think about it, or wait until I want to use it!

 

I dug out a cross stitch last night!

My boss needed a ruler that had circles in it.

While looking for my knitting needle gauge, I found a couple pictures I should do up!

 

Anyhoo, it's been an eventful week!

 

Earlier this week, in a random blizzard, I was looking for the elk.

Hadn't seen them yet this drug out winter spring!

 

Here they are at the far end of the pasture.

 

 

And here they are on the road one morning!

 

When I drive down there, there's just the tracks on the road!

They're like ninjas......they just vanish!

 

I saw an eagle!

 

 

Here he is giving me the evil eye!

 

No leaves on those trees yet people!

 

I saw the usual geese, ducks, & swans.

 

 

Then added to the mix one day was a bunch of cranes!

 

 

Hahaha, this guy on the right was giving me the finger.....REALLY!

 

Lookit this!

 

 

He/she was just having a rest in the yard!

So cool!

 

After the -16 morning on Tuesday, Spring arrived Thursday night with a vengence!

This is sunrise Friday morning!

The bridge board across the small well behaved creek, is trying to leave the scene!

 

 

This was last night!

The road goes over to the fenced pastures!

I mow on both sides of the little dirt road!

You can see my poor little spruce trees are getting a real good drink!

 

 

Here's Shadow.

She's saying, "Do you SEE this!? My forest is full of water...WTH!?"

 

 

"OH well, might as well check it out!"

Worse than a kid I tell you!

 

On Wednesday one of the gf's said, "Is it dry by your fire pit yet?"

I said, "It will be in a few days"

(Insert maniacal laughter here!)

It's flooding!

 

 

 

Here's the footwear of choice to check out the water situation!

Short pants & rubber boots!

 

It's gone down quite a bit already today!

I think it was just the initial thaw in the forest!

 

The wood furnace is shut off!

It's probably tired after 7 months of working!

All the dry wood left in the woodshed will get split for the fire pit!

I got a hug this week in the computer store for this Sympathy card!

I was buying a new TV for my craft room.

A 19" flatscreen.

I'll let you know how I like that!

I know the sound is better!

 

I took my peeps from the OFH to Walmart in Peace River today!

I only had a few things on my list!

Vanessa met us there, and we picked out some outfits for our friend that had twins.

She has a 1 1/2 year old too, so she's getting a sun dress and coloring book!

 

I was looking for a milk frother!

Vanessa said, "Are they on sale?"

I said, "I don't even know if they have them here, I just googled them and Walmart popped up!"

Vanessa, "OMG, you're just like some people that come in the store, and tell us they saw something on line, and why don't we have it!"

I said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to make a scene, I was just checking to see if they had one!"

They didn't!

 

Ray got new tires put on the van while I was gone.

And he washed it as a bonus!

 

The tire swing got fixed when I got home, and I cleaned up some more garbage in the yard!

Where does that crap come from!?

And if all the snow would melt out of the fire pit, I'd clean it out, so I'm ready!

 

Shadow's going to the vet on Monday, so I'll be back down in PR.

Vanessa's checking to see if they have a milk frother at her store, and Ray needs a new phone.

Shadow's not sick, she's going for her annual shots,

and I'm actually going to pay to get her hair cut!

And a mani pedi, and what ever else they figure she needs to be comfortable in the heat.

If we have heat!

 

Better go, been up forever!

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!