Digging for gophers. 
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Random Thoughts
It's always such an annoyance to me when I see my photo. I am the most unphotogenic person I know, seriously. I'm always rather shocked to see how long my face is and how I have such a crooked smile. When I DO manage to have a decent picture taken, something else is really wrong, like my hair is standing on end or my shirt is unbuttoned or I have on shorts and my cellulite is gleaming in the flash of the camera.
I went for lunch with a friend yesterday, we have known each other since before either of us had kids and she just recently became a Grandma for the 4th time. Her daughter came for lunch with us, along with the newest grandbaby, a little 4 month old girl. A sweet little thing whom they insisted I hold. Of course the baby proceeded to drool and then throw-up all over my jacket. Why do people insist that you hold their babies? I'd ASK to hold it if I wanted to, or I'd just reach over and take it (which I have done...most recently with Chase and he was most polite and didn't throw-up or even drool) But when people say: "Here!" and shove their bundle of joy towards you, it's really hard to say: "I'd rather not..."
So here is a picture of me, in my preferred anti-social state. Me and the dog in the bush, with Steven as the photographer.
I went for lunch with a friend yesterday, we have known each other since before either of us had kids and she just recently became a Grandma for the 4th time. Her daughter came for lunch with us, along with the newest grandbaby, a little 4 month old girl. A sweet little thing whom they insisted I hold. Of course the baby proceeded to drool and then throw-up all over my jacket. Why do people insist that you hold their babies? I'd ASK to hold it if I wanted to, or I'd just reach over and take it (which I have done...most recently with Chase and he was most polite and didn't throw-up or even drool) But when people say: "Here!" and shove their bundle of joy towards you, it's really hard to say: "I'd rather not..."
So here is a picture of me, in my preferred anti-social state. Me and the dog in the bush, with Steven as the photographer.
Friday, April 20, 2007
I've been thinking...
I have been thinking of Canada a lot lately. Perhaps because I am in constant communication with so many people in many different countries and I am learning a multitude of new terms and words, who knows? Anyhow, I have been thinking of things that are (as far as I know ) strictly Canadianisms. I am always quite amazed when I mention one of these things and some of my friends will say: "What's that?"
(Although I must admit that NO ONE has more unusual terms than Australia!!)
Back bacon. It's Canadian bacon and it's rolled in peameal, which is like cornmeal, but it's made from (you guessed it) peas.
Timbits. Doughnut (or, if you are from the US.."donut") holes from Tim Horton's.
Screech. A type of rum from Newfoundland. We sell it where I work, I am afraid to try it...who calls their liquor "screech"???
Macintosh toffee. (a type of chocolate bar, which in itself is a Cdn term as the Americans say "candy bar") But back to the toffee. It comes in a plaid box and you WHACK it on a hard surface to shatter it into bite size chunks.
Nanaimo bar. The ultimate in a sweet and delectible dessert bar.
Poutine. French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy (if you are from the east, westerners use mozzarella cheese) MMMMMMmmmmm!!
Loonie. A dollar.
Boxing Day. The day after X-mas.
Toque. A winter hat. Rhymes with "kook".
Deke. "I deked around him", means to move really fast. It's a hockey term.
no-see-ums. Little tiny black flies that bite. When I was a kid in northern Quebec we used to wear old pantyhose on our heads, pulled down to our necks to protect us from the no-see-ums. Their bites draw blood, so we'd run around looking like a gang of mini-thugs out to cause mayhem. The poor kid who tore a hole in his while trying to pull it on would suffer the bites and would go home with blood running down his face. It happened to all of us at one time or another. Even if you were lucky enough to not get a bite if you were pantyhose-less, you'd be choking and snorting as you inhaled them or breathed them up your nose. Ahhh yes, Quebec in the summertime, c'est tres bonne!
Tortierre. A meat pie. Mostly in Quebec. I used to eat lots of it until a little "friend" told me that it was made with snot. I never ate it again, even now that I am old enough to know better. Why are kids so mean anyhow?
We don't sell beer in gas stations here.
We can buy ASA (acetaminophen) with codeine simply by asking for it.
Hockey is everywhere. In Cranbrook, where we have only 18,000 people. we have THREE hockey arenas on one street. All within sight of each other.
I'll bet that most Canadians can NOT name 5 prime ministers (go on...try it!) But I'll bet we can all name at least a dozen or more hockey players
Boy, we are a pretty exotic country when you get down to brass tacks. (Or Robertson screws (and drivers) for that matter. It's a screw with a square hole in the top, as opposed to the straight or the X, and they come in standard colours to indicate their size. Apparently they are almost impossible to strip, unlike the Phillips head ones.
I could go on I'm sure, but hark! I hear Don Cherry on the TV which means...It's Hockey Night In Canada...
(Although I must admit that NO ONE has more unusual terms than Australia!!)
Back bacon. It's Canadian bacon and it's rolled in peameal, which is like cornmeal, but it's made from (you guessed it) peas.
Timbits. Doughnut (or, if you are from the US.."donut") holes from Tim Horton's.
Screech. A type of rum from Newfoundland. We sell it where I work, I am afraid to try it...who calls their liquor "screech"???
Macintosh toffee. (a type of chocolate bar, which in itself is a Cdn term as the Americans say "candy bar") But back to the toffee. It comes in a plaid box and you WHACK it on a hard surface to shatter it into bite size chunks.
Nanaimo bar. The ultimate in a sweet and delectible dessert bar.
Poutine. French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy (if you are from the east, westerners use mozzarella cheese) MMMMMMmmmmm!!
Loonie. A dollar.
Boxing Day. The day after X-mas.
Toque. A winter hat. Rhymes with "kook".
Deke. "I deked around him", means to move really fast. It's a hockey term.
no-see-ums. Little tiny black flies that bite. When I was a kid in northern Quebec we used to wear old pantyhose on our heads, pulled down to our necks to protect us from the no-see-ums. Their bites draw blood, so we'd run around looking like a gang of mini-thugs out to cause mayhem. The poor kid who tore a hole in his while trying to pull it on would suffer the bites and would go home with blood running down his face. It happened to all of us at one time or another. Even if you were lucky enough to not get a bite if you were pantyhose-less, you'd be choking and snorting as you inhaled them or breathed them up your nose. Ahhh yes, Quebec in the summertime, c'est tres bonne!
Tortierre. A meat pie. Mostly in Quebec. I used to eat lots of it until a little "friend" told me that it was made with snot. I never ate it again, even now that I am old enough to know better. Why are kids so mean anyhow?
We don't sell beer in gas stations here.
We can buy ASA (acetaminophen) with codeine simply by asking for it.
Hockey is everywhere. In Cranbrook, where we have only 18,000 people. we have THREE hockey arenas on one street. All within sight of each other.
I'll bet that most Canadians can NOT name 5 prime ministers (go on...try it!) But I'll bet we can all name at least a dozen or more hockey players
Boy, we are a pretty exotic country when you get down to brass tacks. (Or Robertson screws (and drivers) for that matter. It's a screw with a square hole in the top, as opposed to the straight or the X, and they come in standard colours to indicate their size. Apparently they are almost impossible to strip, unlike the Phillips head ones.
I could go on I'm sure, but hark! I hear Don Cherry on the TV which means...It's Hockey Night In Canada...
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Cat Attack
Well, what an "adventure" we had today. We were just finishing up our walk and we were heading down the street to our house, the usual. There is a corner house with a large hedge of rosebushes that border the yard and Gypsy always has a sniff as we walk by, I'm sure that every neighbourhood dog has a pee on the bushes and I suppose the smells are interesting to her. She stuck her head in the shrubbery and I heard a rustle and a "PHHHSSSSSSTTTTTT!!" and a yelp and I hauled her out, only to find a cat attatched to her. NOT a cat in HER mouth, but this giant orange and white Stephen King type of cat stuck to her! I yanked her leash and pulled her towards me, but she ran back into the shrub yelping like a baby. The cat was snarling and yowling and batting Gypsy's head like a boxer. Almost funny, but not just yet! Steven ran and grabbed her harness and we pulled her (now catless) a few feet away and didn't the damn cat arch its back and hiss and proceed to run towards us! It was truely a devil cat! By now Gypsy wanted to fight back, but she was still yelping and barking in a tone that I have never heard before, part "thrill of the chase" and part "Ouchie". We managed to cinch in her leash and trot down the street as the cat stood by the bushes and snarled at us. Gypsy's head was swiveling around like it was on a pivot...looking for "more cat" I guess. We got around the corner and checked her out and she had a bloody scratch on her nose, one by her eye, one on the top of her head and one on her side. I have a feeling the cat was unscathed. We went home and I washed her face with a hot soapy cloth (you know those cats, can never tell where their claws have been) and then she went to bed, exhausted and perhaps a little embarrassed at her fisticuffs. I guess we won't walk that way for a while. Cats these days...too much TV or what??
A bird in the Bush
Two of the "birds" we saw on today's gloomy walk. The helicopter was going up and down the power line, very low and very slow, probably a pilot in training...but possibly looking for vehicles in restricted areas.The robin below was walking up and down the ground very slowly, I don't usually manage to get that close. I guess he was looking for worms...but possibly for a grasshopper.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Stream of Conscienceness
I was thinking today about my grade 9 Science teacher. I can't remember his name, but I can picture him and I can remember that he pronounced "piano" as "pie-anno". We called him "The Cat" because, to our great annoyance, he was always sneaking up on us. Now, granted, we were usually skipping class and raiding someone else's lunch-box at the time, but still, he really shouldn't have been spying on us. At least that was the Grade 9 mentality. He also taught us about writing in the Stream of Conscienceness way. Being a Science teacher I think he should have been teaching us about...well, Science? However I think he was a frustrated Literature and Composition teacher. That's what it was called back then, and said with great speed and all in one word: "Litncomp". But our "Litncomp" teacher was a young lady with a great mass of fuzzy red hair and all I remember HER teaching me was that a red haired woman could wear pink and orange if she wanted to, the fashion people were "wrong, wrong, wrong" and she would wave her arms all akimbo. She taught me that word, "akimbo" too. Grade 9 was quite an educational year for me.
Anyhow, The Cat used to hand us out paper and tell us to start writing. And we'd say" "What? What should we write? The names of the planets? What?" And he'd say: "Just start writing, write whatever streams through your conscienceness and don't stop. Don't worry about paragraphs or punctuation or spelling. Just write whatever comes down your arm and through your fingers." Then he would leave us for an hour. (In hindsight, I guess this is when he took off on his spy missions..perhaps he was a frustrated P.I. as well)
I would sit and write and write, to me it was a joy. Most of the other kids would gossip and flirt, some would sleep and some of the guys would get arm-wrestling competitions going. The cliques would become clique-y and discussions would turn to make-up and dances and who was seeing who. I would just write and write. No wonder Science was my favorite class!
I liked the way that whatever I was writing about would wander and meander off into other topics, just like when you are walking and talking with a friend and the subjects change from minute to minute. I still talk to myself in that manner. Ok, let me explain that, I don't walk through the stores talking out loud to myself, but when I am in the bush I talk out loud to the dog and "we" discuss all sorts of things. Our topics change from squirrels to the weather and I sometimes ask her advice on problems that are bothering me. She isn't much help really, but she is a very good listener. Today we got a little bit lost in the bush, I took a new path (because, you know, life is all about taking the unknown road) however one should always pay attention to the paths one takes. All roads don't really lead to Rome. Some lead to places that you haven't been before and when you get 3 miles in you realize that now you have to turn around and walk 3 miles out. ( I clip a pedometer to my waist, so I know that it WAS 3 miles in...) That made for a 6 mile walk. Maybe that road DID lead to Rome. Hey, maybe all roads DO lead to Rome. Those crazy Romans, they really knew their stuff.
It's Shane's birthday today. He is 32. I was going downtown when that song by Green Day came on. I never know the name of it, but you know the one I mean...about the best days of your life. It always makes me get teary eyed and I was getting all verklempt when I saw a deer walking down the retaining wall beside the road, just like a kid walking along and trying to balance themselves. I had to stop and look twice and it made me laugh out loud. It was just the oddest moment, as if I were supposed to cheer up a little and stop being such a sappy boob. So I did. Cheer up that is. So much so that I went to Save-on and bought strawberries, whipped cream and short-cake things and made macerated strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Sometimes I just really want to write yet I have nothing to report. Not that much happens here that is different on a day to day basis and my subconscience must have made me remember The Cat and his odd method of teaching Science. I wonder what he thought of our rambles? I wonder if he was also a frustrated psychotherapist of some sort? This is an excellent way to blather on and share odd little bits of my inner mind, and I think I will enjoy coming here and seeing what comes out of my fingers.
Anyhow, The Cat used to hand us out paper and tell us to start writing. And we'd say" "What? What should we write? The names of the planets? What?" And he'd say: "Just start writing, write whatever streams through your conscienceness and don't stop. Don't worry about paragraphs or punctuation or spelling. Just write whatever comes down your arm and through your fingers." Then he would leave us for an hour. (In hindsight, I guess this is when he took off on his spy missions..perhaps he was a frustrated P.I. as well)
I would sit and write and write, to me it was a joy. Most of the other kids would gossip and flirt, some would sleep and some of the guys would get arm-wrestling competitions going. The cliques would become clique-y and discussions would turn to make-up and dances and who was seeing who. I would just write and write. No wonder Science was my favorite class!
I liked the way that whatever I was writing about would wander and meander off into other topics, just like when you are walking and talking with a friend and the subjects change from minute to minute. I still talk to myself in that manner. Ok, let me explain that, I don't walk through the stores talking out loud to myself, but when I am in the bush I talk out loud to the dog and "we" discuss all sorts of things. Our topics change from squirrels to the weather and I sometimes ask her advice on problems that are bothering me. She isn't much help really, but she is a very good listener. Today we got a little bit lost in the bush, I took a new path (because, you know, life is all about taking the unknown road) however one should always pay attention to the paths one takes. All roads don't really lead to Rome. Some lead to places that you haven't been before and when you get 3 miles in you realize that now you have to turn around and walk 3 miles out. ( I clip a pedometer to my waist, so I know that it WAS 3 miles in...) That made for a 6 mile walk. Maybe that road DID lead to Rome. Hey, maybe all roads DO lead to Rome. Those crazy Romans, they really knew their stuff.
It's Shane's birthday today. He is 32. I was going downtown when that song by Green Day came on. I never know the name of it, but you know the one I mean...about the best days of your life. It always makes me get teary eyed and I was getting all verklempt when I saw a deer walking down the retaining wall beside the road, just like a kid walking along and trying to balance themselves. I had to stop and look twice and it made me laugh out loud. It was just the oddest moment, as if I were supposed to cheer up a little and stop being such a sappy boob. So I did. Cheer up that is. So much so that I went to Save-on and bought strawberries, whipped cream and short-cake things and made macerated strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Sometimes I just really want to write yet I have nothing to report. Not that much happens here that is different on a day to day basis and my subconscience must have made me remember The Cat and his odd method of teaching Science. I wonder what he thought of our rambles? I wonder if he was also a frustrated psychotherapist of some sort? This is an excellent way to blather on and share odd little bits of my inner mind, and I think I will enjoy coming here and seeing what comes out of my fingers.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
How sweet is this?
This is my niece Kaitlyn, actually she is my niece's niece...so she is my GREAT niece. Hmm, that makes me a great-aunt. Not so sure I like that title...but, as they say, I digress. Isn't she gorgeous? Look at at that hair at only 5 months old..and she was born with that amount of hair!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Easter Crocuses...croci?
It's a funny world. When I used to walk Sasha up in the bush, oh , about 12 years ago, I noticed that the little fuzzy purple crocuses would appear in full bloom simply overnight. You never saw little green stems and then small buds. There was nothing and then there were flowers. It was like the Crocus Gods came down overnight and just stuck them in the dry weeds. They always appeared on the Easter weekend. It became my own little tradition to go out on the long Easter weekend and find them. (Yes I know, it takes very little to amuse me. Never mind) Anyhow, this year was so cold and bitter and there is still snow in places where we walk, so I wasn't really expecting anything and on Saturday and Sunday I saw not a hint of purple. Today however, Easter Monday, off we went and sure enough...fuzzy little purple flowers were everywhere, just popping right up out of the dry, dead grass. Nature is pretty amazing!
Hot Dog in the Easter Sun
What a beautiful Easter Sunday. The weather was the best so far, probably close to 20. The sun beat through the window and Gypsy moves along with the sun beams. Eventually the sun vanishes from the window and she moves to a new spot.Earning my keep
"I have just been informed that I have to start helping out with the housework. Well, I guess washing the kitchen floor after dinner isn't such a horrible thing...mmm..." 
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Happy Easter! I just came down here to post a few pictures, and I realized my camera is outside in the truck and I am just too lazy to go get it. Besides, Desperate Housewives will be on in a minute and that is my one serious vice...so I'll post pictures later. They were only more Gypsy pix, she spent all day snoozin' in the sun today, it was one hot Easter Day and she just looked so sweet. I'll get them up here tomorrow.
Hope everyone had a nice day and a filling dinner! We had ours last night, and since we had no kids at home and no company we eschewed the traditional dinner and had BBQ steak and shrimp, garlic bread and potatoes and a huge Greek salad. It was WONDERFUL.
Hope everyone had a nice day and a filling dinner! We had ours last night, and since we had no kids at home and no company we eschewed the traditional dinner and had BBQ steak and shrimp, garlic bread and potatoes and a huge Greek salad. It was WONDERFUL.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Happy Easter!
"Here comes Gypsy Cottontail
Sulkin' down the Bunny trail,
Mumbledy, Grumbley, Easter go away..."
Sulkin' down the Bunny trail,
Mumbledy, Grumbley, Easter go away..."
Sunday, April 01, 2007
River Fishing
River fishing opened today and Steven was off like a shot. They caught 11 nice bullies, (not the ones that annoy your kids at school, but the kind with gills) The picture below was one of the smaller ones. Gypsy has apparently does not remember ever seeing a fish up close before as she was quite confused and not sure what it was going to do to her.
I don't eat these sort of fish, but our wonderful old 82 year old neighbour adores them, and he was thrilled to pieces to have it delivered to him at supper time!
I don't eat these sort of fish, but our wonderful old 82 year old neighbour adores them, and he was thrilled to pieces to have it delivered to him at supper time!
PLease?
Please tell me that is an April Fools joke, and that this...this..."thing" isn't going into my food dish!!
Look at me balance!
I like this picture, she hardly ever "poses" with her ears up, usually the minute she sees the camera she gets that scowly teenage look. I don't know what made her so perky on this day.
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