Hectic

That is the only word I can use to describe life in the last 10 days. Daryl arrived home on the 19th for a brief 10 day visit (much better than the 2 days we were originally planning on) and we just didn't stop! The yard re-landscaping is complete - we are just waiting for the grass seed to sprout. Twyla, Gil and the Tia-pet came for a visit over the long weekend, we went to Kelowna for a brief over-night visit to help celebrate Greg's Master's degree, and in between all that we had time to play with the neighbours, go for some hikes and spend some quality time together.

It was very difficult to say good-bye, once again, at the airport and this time even Fletcher is pouting. Daryl is committed to actually start looking for permanent employment in the Loops to be closer to home, and in this market it should take no time at all!

So on the the fun part...the week in photos!
Tia...obviously!
Tia loved Fletcher's non-stop wagging tail. She would dive in and come out with a mouth full of chow tail-fur. Poor chow!

I love the look on Fletcher's face in these photos...

As Daryl would cut the grass, Tia would get all tough and try to herd the mower.

When Twyla and Gil were over we had the opportunity to meet some more extended family, Della and Richard, who recently moved to Kamloops from Fort-something (either Nelson or St. John, I can't remember). We had a lovely Victoria Day morning break with stinky cheese and lots of tea and coffee. During this time, I found out that their pooch, Cane, was going to be put in a kennel when they go on a week's vacation. Well, the puppy lover in me would just not have that! So I offered out home. From the 24 to 26 we did a trial run, and Cane was the cutest little shit-zu I've ever seen. He had a lot of spunk for a 12 year old!

On Friday May 25 we had the first family BBQ of the season at Ken & Carla's, and what a feast it was! Daryl and I prepared beer-butt chicken, tater skins and I was in charge of the kids desert! I made chocolate cupcakes with star sprinkles, complete with worms! They were devoured even before dinner was served! Teresa and Brian brought over a delicious London broil and countless pitchers of Mojitos! YUMM!

Tater-skinsBeer-but chicken with yummy rub!
Daryl and Nathaniel causing Carla's heart-attack as they jump on the trampolineTeresa guarding her mojito

Flower Power

Today I am sharing photos of my wonderful indoor plants who are very confused. We begin with Ferdinand. Ferdinand was a dream of Daryl's who saw me one lazy late spring morning in the garden planting tiny, microscopic seeds into the warm earth. I was sewing my first herb garden - dill, basil and parsley. I already had a forest of chives, tarragon and mint! Did I mention this was last spring?
Daryl decided that he, too, wanted to plant something. He choose peppers. Peppers? I asked. Peppers - the hot ones. That is what he wanted, that is what he got.
It is now time for a small celebration. Almost 11 months later we have the signs of our first hot pepper.To put things into context - the pepper is about the size of a peanut. Thank goodness we were not starving and waiting for this pepper to sustain us! However, one will lead to more...and we will have a hot pepper fajita with mojitos!Speaking of growing things...my orchid given to me by the Schuelers as a house warming gift, which I thought I had killed - the fate of so many of my attempts at gardening, has sprouted again. I was recently told they can go dormant and then pop out again! Does anyone know if I need to stake the off-shoot? Nothing is happening with the vertical stem.My Christmas cactus did not bloom at Christmas. I was told by my mom that it could be an Easter cactus. Very religious flowering plant - I thought. Not the case. Said plant was green from the day I bought it. Alas, white flowers have erupted all over the place! Perhaps it is a Mother's Day cactus. Yay!

Please note blog dog sitting on guard for thee in the great outdoors!

TIA on her way home!

I Need to Admit My Crush

It started out as a second glance - years ago. It turned into a craze. I have a crush. I have the kind of crush, at 30, that I thought I was over when I had my last crush at age 17 or so. I've been feeling guilty about it for a while, so my confession today is purely selfish in the attempts to rid myself of the guilt - not the crush.
I have a crush on Bon Jovi. I was flipping through the 100+ channels on our satellite TV and found nothing that grabbed my interest...until American Idol. I don't watch American Idol, at least, not anymore. I gave up and decided to protest the broadcasts when Chris Daughtry was booted off and that jack-ass Taylor Hicks won the competition last year. After that fiasco I vowed no more Idol for this chick.
I was proven wrong. Earlier this week I could not turn away. There he was, preforming his new hit "(You Want To) Make A Memory" - which strikes a very deep chord in me for some reason - and I was mesmerized. I admit, I almost started to cry. sniff.
Bon Jovi is hot. At 45 he's still all that. I think it's a combination of the hair, the smile, the eyes...I admit my crush. If Bon Jovi ever came to Kamloops you can bet I'd be at the concert.

Tia at 8 Weeks!
1 more sleep till she comes home!

More Photos of Tia

They're Here!

So my parents have packed their house in White Rock and moved to the Loops. It's official. Below is a map showing just how close they really are. We are separated by a few houses, some green space and a "mountain" that belongs to the City. Ain't no mountain high enough...

I'm just so happy that it's Friday. It's been a tough week, getting over the sickness and catching up with everything that I missed last week being off.

The canuks better show up to the game tonight!

No more sick
Well, that is almost true. I'm still coughing, but I no longer want to crawl into a hole and not come out. And today, I'm wearing pink...so I must be feeling better. Either that or the fever made me nutso and has turned me into a girly-clothes wearing drone!
My parents move in 2 days. My mom is still packing and my dad is really starting to panic. I have inherited so many plants and flowers that for the first time in 2 years, our home looks like someone lives there! I really didn't realize what a difference a few flowers in some pots make to the appearance of a front entrance.
Fletcher is doing well, but mad at me for leaving him again. Although I was home last week, I didn't have the strength or energy to do anything with him, so I think he feels he was jipped. Poor chow.
Well, I have to prepare for a council meeting. Good day to all!

I've got a fever of 103!

Aren't those lyrics to a song? Am I hearing voices again? On Wednesday I was as close to death as I've been in a very long time...weeks even. I was having amazing hallucinations of these rainbow, coloured waves dancing across my bedroom...it would have been really beautiful if I wasn't so nauseated. I'm back to work today, shouldn't be but decided to show my face. One co-worker said I looked awful as I walked in the door. Thanks, I feel freakin' sh*#y!
I have over 100 e-mails that I'm making my way through slowly, and it's budget time, so I'm suppose to be concentrating on numbers and spreadsheets. I can't see straight, how am I suppose to think straight?
Daryl is in Missississippippi for Matt's wedding and is having a blast. They went climbing yesterday, saw an amazing waterfall, drove past Graceland, and is eating lots of coon-hash and ribs. I think today they are going "noodling" where you stick your hand in a swamp hole looking for a cat-fish and wait for it to bite down. Sounds like a BLAST to me! Freaks.
Back to work...

I'm sick. I hate being sick. Being sick is a sign of weakness and I'm not weak. I'm just sick. I picked up this fever flu-like sickness from some snotty nosed kid at the home show, I'm sure. Kids suck. I hate being sick.
I was so cold last night so I cuddled with my hot rice bag and hot water bottle, then I would wake up with the feeling that I was in some humid Mexican prison again. It was a bad, bad night. And the coyotes didn't help matters as they got the Chow all riled up again.
I just want to sleep. Does anyone know if 38.9C is a fever?

Monday Morning

It's another Monday here in the Loops and I'm not feeling very inspired today. In fact, I'm exhausted. I had a great weekend at the Home & Garden Show, at our City booth spreading the information about water conservation, being bear aware, our new recycling program and most importantly alternative modes of transportation. They were long days of continuously smiling faces and happy voices, but it was well worth the effort. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a weekend to relax, so today I'm beat.
I wish I could crawl under my desk and disappear, or hide in my closet. For the first time since I started my new job, I don't feel like being here. I don't think it has anything else to do with the fact that I am simply exhausted.
Maybe I should drink some red bull or something!
I finished planting the last of the greenery from my mom's garden, and it looks marvelous! I can't wait for things to start flowering! I'm moving along quite nicely with the xeriscape garden in the front (you know me and water conservation!) if I only had the time to see these plans through!
From the H&G show I also saw many other ideas and plans for home renovations that will make their way onto the list. I think I'll save the indoor jobs for winter...it's too beautiful outside to be indoors!

Baby Tia

Here are some recent baby picutres of Fletcher's new aunt (sounds so weird!) Tia will be 6 weeks old on Wednesday and will join our family when she is at least 9 weeks. We just can't wait!

Happy Easter!

So I'm back to "normal" if you can call it that. We had a great long-weekend visit in White Rock with my parents and family, and Daryl is now back in Toronto. Fletcher and I are alone again, with the fish. sniff sniff.

However, we were left with quite the task. On April 1st we decided to do some red-neck gardening by pulling out the juniper bushes in front of our house by tying them to the truck and backing away. Who know this would work! With the neighbours all watching we pulled, one by one, the 4 huge bushes from the front mound of death (as I called it). This is what we are left with!

So, this week I will be turning the soil, which is mostly sand, and mixing in some good earth and laying some sod. I have lots of plants from my mom's garden that she didn't want to leave behind...so I'm slowly developing a green thumb!

The mini is for sale. Daryl and I have decided that it is time, as we just don't have the time, patience or skill (read: money) to do the things we need to for this little beast. Spud has been a great member of our family for 5 years now, and he will be missed. But I know that someday I will have another...one that is safe to drive on the roads!

On Sunday we were at my cousin's home for dinner, and the meal was amazing! Vince (yes, I have a cousin Vinny) is the operations manager at Mountain View Conservation and Fletcher decided to get a closer sniff of a Moor Gazelle. This may look like a deer to the lay-person, but in fact there are only about 300 left in the world, and none in the wild. Vince has hand raised many of the exotic animals on the farm, and is just amazing with all of them. If you happen to be in Langley you MUST stop in for a tour, the animals you see will blow your mind!

I'm starting a fund raising project for Mountain View by hand carving designs into the ostrich eggs that are collected. When I complete my first one I'll post a photo. I hope to sell these at the farmer's market and other locations in the Loops.

I've also found what I would like the front entrance to our home to look like. Right now we have plywood and grout...but someday it will be magnificent!

Oh, and the truck is sold

Week in Review

Sorry for the lack of updates, but this one will be an all-inclusive, Cuba-libre and nachos kind of a deal.

Daryl came home last Wednesday and its been great...kind of weird as Fletch and I got into our own routines which are now thrown off kilter with the presence of another! Chow loves the fact that he isn't home alone all day, but isn't thrilled that Daryl took him to Petcetera to have a bath. For a dog that loves the water and swimming and getting rocks so much, one would think that he would like baths. Not so much. He gives you the most pathetic looks and just stands there, sadness oozing from every hair on his body.

We spent the weekend in K-town visiting with family and friends up at Big White. The Schmuelers adopted another puppy, Guinness, who is adorable! He was the annoying little brother to Fletch, not leaving him alone for one second. Chow was so patient, sort of. We celebrated Blake, Alicia and Twyla's March birthdays by making them stand on chairs at the restaurant and singing to them. It was awesome!

My dad gave us all a scare on Saturday evening. While at a wine tasting he got very weak and grey and ended up leaving in the ambulance, thanks to the persistence of party members who are doctors and nurses. He is fine, looks like a case of low blood sugar and low blood pressure. The absolutely great news that came from this was, not only is his heart just great (ECG and enzyme tests were all super) but my dad now finally believes that the entire world is not lying to him by saying that smoking is bad for you! What? You mean it isn't a conspiracy? My mom and dad were at the Dr's yesterday and he actually asked his doctor how he could help him quite smoking! I think that is the best news of the century! Daryl and I are so happy and proud, and support him with anything he needs to kick that stinky habit!

Today marks the one month count down to their moving to the Loops. And again, we couldn't be happier! It will be so great having my parents close to us again, for weekend picnics and Sunday dinners and hands-on help with the computer when they need it! Daryl and I are so happy that they decided to come this way. Not only does moving out of the unbelievably overinflated and over-priced housing market of the lower mainland ease their financial load, but it will also allow us to spend that much more time with them in the non-rushed shove everything into 2 day weekend visits that we've been having for the past 2 years. Daryl and my dad have a very unique connection which is just awesome. Maybe it's the fact that papa never had a son, and that a tragic accident changed Daryl's dad forever, but they seem to really bond. After all, they are Captain and Commodore of the blue boat (yet to be named!) And of course, we are so excited about the amazing meals that we're going to have with the mama!

We've decided to sell the truck. Daryl was very sad, but the 1 tonne is so underutilized and costs just a bit more than we want to fork out these days. Daryl is writing up the ads now and we hope it sells while he is home, that way I don't have to deal with it! Once it sells then the bike can be insured and we'll all be happy (except Chow - cause he can't hang on tight enough). So if you know of anyone looking for a Dodge 3500 in amazing condition with low kms that was babied by its owner, let me know!
Daryl has his surgery today at 11:40 and he seems more excited about it than nervous, which is a good think I guess. The doctor was also very excited as he has rarely seen a tumor like this...only in the medical books! I'll let everyone know if he gets to keep it, as requested. He's so weird.
Well, my work say should get started now. Talk to you all later!

The Pups Today

Here is an updated shot of the suckling pups at 2 weeks old! Aren't they adorable!

Wonderful Weekend Weather

I didn't mean for that to come out as quite the simile, but oh well! We did have a magnificent weekend in the Loops. With temperatures reaching 14C on Saturday, and 16C on Sunday, who could complain!?! Fletcher and I did lots of gardening, as last year was our first spring in the new home and we had no idea what to expect. Now that we know what flowers (and weeds) are abundant, we went hacking. It was very satisfying to look at once we were done. We will be replacing the old and tired looking bark mulch chips with lava rock (or similar) in the front garden, so it looks very barren right now. I'm saving the heavy work, like shoveling rocks, for when Daryl comes home! 2 more sleeps! Photos to follow.

The real causes of global warming.

Click on the image for animation.

Spring Fling?

I thought it was spring. I spent hours in the garden last weekend weeding, cleaning up poo from the yard, and mulch from the flower beds. I pruned some of the trees to let the light reach the lower gardens, swept the patio, picked up pine needles and cones (2 huge garbage bins full) and even cooked on the BBQ! Spring was here, I was happy. This is Fletcher sitting at his mark (note the small pink flower stencil still on the glass fence, Fletcher must sit here, and only here. Must have been an actor in a previous life)
Then, just as a spring break fling vanishes from your life in an instant, so did the warm weather. I woke up this morning, after being sick as a dog yesterday, to find over 2" of snow. Fletcher thought it was winter again and obviously forgot what snow was. He was out jumping and frolicking in the white stuff in the non poop-free garden like he hadn't seen snow in years. Crazy mutt. I'm not shovelling. I refuse. Besides, it is suppose to go up to 13C today, so it can all melt. Global Warming? Whatever.
Mama, it snowed!

SPRING!

With the warm weather and sunny days come the buds of spring. Here are some photos of the greenery I've been trying not to kill. Daryl's pepper plant, Ferdinand. After 10 months, we now have our first flowers!!
The African violet that I thought died 3 times. I now have purple flowers!
My Christmas cactus that died when I brought it home, is now going to bloom for Easter!

This is what the last litter from the same mama looked like...

Corgi Pup Anyone?

We found a great breeder of Welsh Pembroke Corgis, and her mama just gave birth to...wait for it...11 pups on Wednesday. Daryl has put a reserve on one of the red & white females for his mom, who can't wait for the new addition to the family. Honestly, neither can we. They are so cute and tiny! Don't you think the Chow would like a little sister? Ok, maybe not...maybe just a cousin. YAY for puppies!

GUILTY!

The other morning I found the CHOW snoring away on the bed in my newly decorated guest bedroom. I guess he figured that no one was using it, so he may as well sleep comfortably! Spoiled mutt!

How Not to Renovate

I could start a TV show on how not to proceed with home renovations.
#1 Don't start anything you don't intend to finish
#2 Don't start anything out of boredom.

We've been talking about our gastly front entrance with the 1970's tiles, which all the grout is starting to crack and fall apart. I think we are going with a tile "front entrance matt" type of thing, framed with hardwood and carring the wood down the rest of the hall way, replacing all the tile and the Bird's of Paradise carpet.

I was bored, grabbed a crow bar and hammer and attacked. After about 20 minutes, I was bored of this too, and stopped. Shit...now what?



There was so much more to do, but I had some common sense to STOP before I ripped up the whole house.
Fortunately, the portion that I removed can be almost completely covered by a hideous green cut of carpet...At least we aren't walking on thin-set and plywood!
When does Daryl come home? I think we are going to learn to tile a floor! WOOHOO!
Opps.

Apparently some people aren't mighty trackers, here they are for the lay person.

Coyotes!

I woke up this morning and thought that I was seeing things. Fletch comfirmed that, indeed, there were beasts in our back yard. A pack of about 20 coyotes were out at 6:30 this morning, yippin and yappin and having a great time! Spring is in the air...maybe they will have baby coyotes! And the Chow will come home with a new friend! Good grief!
They are a little hard to see, but there are 3 in the centre of the photo, just right and back from the large tree on the left.

Corgi Anyone?

We are on a mission. A mission of such importance that is surpasses all other missions that I've been assigned. The mission: to find a female corgi puppy for Twyla. We are searching high and low for an acceptable pooch. My only fear, if we find one and I fall in love and want to keep it!