Did someone get a hold of the kids' markers?

After much discussion, probing & prodding and twisting someone's arm... Joe decided to add to his 'art' collection. This is just the first draft of what will turn into a half sleeve...the original work, circa 1975, by Jerry Swallow will be re-touched and coloured and incorporated into the new one. Do you think this is a bit much or a true reflection of Joseph's true colours??? He likes to play with ALL the colours in the crayon box.

My space is shrinking!

I worked so hard on my corner of the dungeon...early posts reflect that...while Joe was away. Now I'm on the move again.

Not going far but I have to squeeze my office space into the laundry/sewing room. It seems that I forgot to allow for a mini gym in my home! DUH! What was I thinking? Bar - check, sewing area - check!!!! OK, not so much SASS, I need the physical challenge of daily exercise just like most people, maybe more.

After much discussion with the better half...we are going to start working out at home. The equipment is somewhat bulky, so...my - sniff sniff -office space is just the right size. We'll probably start work on that this weekend seeing as it's supposed to rain the whole time!

Has anyone seen DaVinci Code?

Joe & I have talked about seeing a movie forever...we never quite seem to get there. The last movie we seen on the big screen was Bourne Supremacy. Joe had seen a lot of films while he was travelling and I never catch up. Last night, after finishing up in the yard we decided to rent a movie and veg out a bit. The clerk at the video store reminder us it's 2/1 night...so we selected Dick & Jane as well as Munich. We got the comedy in and then our eyes were rolling back. As luck would have it, it's raining this morning so I can't stain more fence...guess I'll curl up with a cuppa something warm and watch my other movie! Wish you were here Joe but work beckons.

Yuck!

Someone mentioned they liked to check out Post Secret...well I did and this is what I found. So much for worrying about a sneeze burger.

Fashion designer - Alex Beck!

I had a predicament on what to wear to Joe's company award dinner. On Saturday, Lesley and Alex went shopping with me while Joseph accompanied his Dad and Papa to the sporting stores. Armed with a loaded debit card and faith that I would find something suitable, we hit Sears. Even though Alex sat in the stroller he managed to tell me that I was trying on car wash pants! Heck, I had never heard to those before and he's chatting a mile a minute about them! Sorry Alex, they didn't suit Nannie, but I agree, the dress with a few soft ruffles did. Thanks Alex & Lesley for all the help. Papa says I will look hot!

3 days of 18 hole golf and they want MORE!

Finally someone from Calgary - Non Flames that is!- who plays hockey. Unfortunately it's on th eputting greens at Spring Creek golf course. Aaron did get a birdie on one hole, and a few pars, for the most part, it was hockey with a putter.

Joe's game was just nasty and he stopped counting. I think we are shopping for new clubs or a better excuse! But everyone knows...a bad day of golf is better than any day at work!

What to wear?

I thought I knew the rules, but now I'm doubting myself. Joe has a work retreat in Jasper the second weekend in June. Friday night is a meet 'n' greet - no big deal. Saturday is the award dinner with entertainment. The dress is classified as 'formal, no jeans'!!!!! The guys are wearing shirts & jackets but what about us ladies? I don't want to show up in some fancy 'yet to be bought' gown, panty hose & heels and have all the other women in little sundresses and strappy sandals! I asked Gail what she was going to wear...she's in the same boat but her boat is a lot smaller! I hate shopping by myself and I don't quite get the right feedback from Joe (sorry dear). I think Lesley and the gang are coming up...we may have to hit the malls in a big way.

Today's Brides are very savvy!

I was chatting with Les about Kate's aka Kathrn upcoming wedding to Jeff. It seems that things have changed somewhat since Lesley married Aaron in 1999.

I had never heard of a guest bathroom supply basket! That just means some little sample sized things to freshen up when attending a wedding...you know...perhaps little lotion, hair spray, a couple of small safety pins to repair a bra strap, some spot remover and maybe some fem.products. But mouthwash???? I'd be afraid of someone before me taking a big swig out of the bottle! Am I showing my age or what?

When I got married, my biggest challenge was the date, location and who to invite so no-one felt left out...who was I kidding...everyone came and we had a great time! Oh and the marriage is great also!

I got lucky the first time around although I would like to renew our vows sometime...I thought at 25 years, but that wasn't a good time for me...maybe @ 40! Now, do you think I could get Joe up to the altar a second time?

And it just keeps on going on & on & on...

I am referring to the fence of course! What a lot of work. I have 3 - 8 foot sections to finish on the left side. I had to work on the other side of the yard in the shade after I roasted myself...poor Joe was so worried about my sunburn he got the burn kit out...but it looks worse than it feels. We have to replace the whole back length of fence this season. We will probably price that out this weekend and make a game plan. The town owns the metal uprights, we so just have the do the rails and pickets (~ 120!) ...I'm so glad we don't have to do post holes and cement...that's not fun. The effort will be worth it in the long haul...but what a lot of work! I should get started.

Tom & 'Berta

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Mark Twain




Well it would seem that I have my very own fence to stain! It was a pukey butterscotch colour when we moved in. After some repairs, we painted it a dark brown. Now we have a few more repairs to do and I'm so sick of brown, time for a change. Stonehenge aka grey! I think it will will very fresh and contrast nicer with our sallllmmmmon house, don't you?

Says it all!

Not that we are suggesting folks deceive others but...it is hockey play off season and WE STILL HAVE A TEAM!!!

GO OILERS GO!!!

Good thing it's raining!

I've sort of ignored my housekeeping this week. I can ALMOST write my name in the dust. I was so excited about things in the yard actually coming together. More and more of the perennials are peaking through...I thought I lost most of them over the winter. We are in Zone 2a, which is a very harsh environment.

Yesterday's surprise were my 2 lupins - yes the famous PEI poopin'n'the'lupins Les is always talking about. I started those suckers last year by seed and hadn't held much hope for them but...fingers crossed.

I did lose 1 rose but replaced it with 2 more and a climber! I think that's even, don't you? Joe was so nice to add a piece to my trellis. so I have a corner for this to grow up.

Our fiddleheads are just starting to wake up...except for a new bunch that shot off to the side...they are ~ 3" up...so we missed those babies!

I started staining the fence. I got the public side all done, looks good. I repainted the trellis at the front door...was white, now a deep green. It gives the house a fresh look. So bit by bit, the work is getting done.

I hope all the Moms have a great Mother's Day Sunday. Heather, hang in there, you will be a full fledged member next year!

OOPS! I just realized that this is post #100...now what????

And another new generation of gardeners!

I recently had the pleasure of talking to Joseph on the phone. It started with the usual Hi Nannie but soon progressed into the heart of the topic.

Wasn't I surprised when Joseph reminded me that he likes to come to my house so he could pick peas! Indeed he did pick peas last year and after they were done we augmented them with ones from the farmers market. Joseph would stay at the picnic table and pop them all!

Alex wasn't much into peas. He had trouble with the shelling. But point out a carrot and he was more than willing to give it a yank. Nothing quite like eating a freshly pulled carrot that we washed under the garden hose...well...maybe a pea or 2!

OK,OK stop the arm twisting!

I really needed the family input on the work question...I still want to go back to work but not yet. The strongest case came from dear Joe...he didn't want to have to make the cross country drive by himself! After all, is it really fair to start something and not follow through? So I will look at this again late August, early September.

Come to think of it, that was the very same time I went to work the last time, right after Lesley & Aaron's wedding.

As to my being on stand by for Heather & Jeff after their blessed event...count me in!

What are you?

You are White Chocolate

You have a strong feminine side with a good bit of innocence thrown in.Whether your girlish ways are an act or not, men like to take care of you.You are an understated beauty, and your power is often underestimated!

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

To call or not to call!

Dale, that is...seems they (Dale & Linda) would love to have me back...but that would mean losing lots of my free time....oh what to do? I'm starting to miss the hustle and bustle of work...OK and the paycheque! We went for a drive yesterday...where to? Dale's new truck stop...and it's only 44 kms from the house (40 minute drive)...so now the heavy duty thinking starts. If anyone has something to say one way or the other, don't be shy...speak up!

And another great Friday night!

Lucky us, we had the pleasure of Lucie's company for the evening. With her job, Lucie is in Edmonton quite often and she tries to work us into her busy schedule when she can. That's tough these days, because her friend and ex-neighbour now lives in Edmonton proper...and there's only so much Lucie to go around!

Last night we just sat outside with a glass of wine and caught up on who was doing what and where. Then Joe BBQ'd up some gorgeous pork chops to go along with grilled zucchini and dilled potatoes and a Caesar salad...all washed down with ..more wine!

We closed to night with a soak in the hot tub. We didn't spot any satellites but did manage to identify the odd constellation AKA The Big Dipper! Yes, we like the simple things...simply the best...good food, good conversation and of course, good company! Don't be a stranger Lucie!

We have life!

Well I should say Joe does...in his grape vine patch, little itty bitty buds on 4 vines. Last year, before he left for Club Med AKA Camp Julien, Joe wanted to try his hand at grapes...I think it is a macho thing...bragging rights of sort. We successfully make our own wine and it would be nice to say we grow our own grapes. Yeah, who am I kidding...we'll be lucky to get the vines up high enough to grow up the trellis! Even with a variety that should withstand our harsh winters, we may have lost 1 of the 5 plants. I won't yank it out yet...because you all know that if is comes out of the ground easily...it's a flower or other type of 'keeper'! Only weeds grab on for dear life! Go figure...now I must go and pick those 2 cute yellow flowers that dared showed their faces this morning!

A greenhouse 1st for me!

As my family can attest, I'm very frugal in almost all walks of life. Why pay those prices for grown seedlings when with time and patience, you can do the something at home for a fraction of the cost.

So each spring I drag out my portable greenhouse and get to work in the dirt.

Depending on who you ask, I have good to great results, most years. I'm sure you have all heard about the great tomato growing contests with everyone using the same seedlings from my little greenhouse. I won, hands down! Thanks for tying on those juicy ripe ones from the grocery store, Joe. Sorry I blabbed and spoiled your fun.

So you can imagine my surprise when I went to water this morning and found a bunch of flower bids on my crackerjack marigolds! I have never had buds before planting stuff outside. I wonder if it's my secret additive to my water solution. Now if my cherry tomatoes grow to the size of beefsteaks, I think I'll put it down to a mislabelling of the seed packette!

And YES, these are marigolds...not herbs!

Looking for new food ideas!

Seems like we are getting into a food rut...salad, spuds, grilled meat...yesterday I watched one of my favorite food shows, Chef at Large...gotta love his PEI house! Mike, do you know where he lives? I may just have to wander off in his direction this summer! Anyways it was a rerun, marinated lamb and grilled polenta! I got excited about that the first time I saw it, so rushed out to get the cornmeal...well tonight is the trial run. I made up the wet polenta and it's now in the loaf pan in the frig cooling for tonight's sidedish. I hope it picks up some flavour from the olive oil and grilling because right now, it just tastes like mush! The good news is thought, that we aren't trying it out on Lucie first this weekend when she visits...if it's a bust, it may very well go into that dark place where my stroganoff and Joe's shepherd's pie went in shame! So if I don't bring up the topic, it was badddd, very badddd!

I shouldn't feel like this!

Today I just want to curl up under a warm blanket and sleep, or read or watch a movie. I've always said I wanted to watch all the Lord of the Rings trilogy during a snowstorm...have the fire going, pull out the hide a bed and make myself comfy with some snacks...well I didn't think it would be in MAY! It's down right awful out there.

Except for the fact I made a wager with Lesley, I would not have ventured out to Curves. But I went, I worked hard, I feel so much better with myself. I missed quite a bit after I hurt my ankle, but slowly I'll get back into the swing of things.

I really enjoy my new bicycle seat. I wish I had someone close by to bike with...hint hint! They made those seats for men as well....one can always hope.

Is 10 am too early for popcorn and hot chocolate? NAH! See you on the couch!

Nice doggy!

You can see Cody's spots now that she has had her spring haircut. She missed out on her fall cut last year when she was sick. She's feeling much better, not too stressed these days. Chow's photo is missing in action today...she dropped and rolled around in the freshly filled veggies beds and was covered in triple mix and compost. I even had to pick off part of a decomposed tea bag. What a sight Chow was!

New veggie beds built & filled

Wow, that was a lot of dirty work. We had to replace the old raised beds after many years, but I wanted the new ones more or less in the same spot. Instead of having it long, we decided to go L shape...one part is 12' x 4', the other 10' x 4'. I will put the tall stuff along the back so it gets the most sun and the shorter stuff in the front. I only hope the weatherman was joking when he said sn*w tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday!

Ahhhhh!

We had an awesome weekend with some great unexpected news...another grandchild to spoil is on their way. There's no way to plan for something as special as this. I came across this piece, don't know who wrote it but I think it's appropriate -

A baby's hands touch so much...

your heart, your life and your love.

Hence, remember this, and little messes

with mischevous smiles will

seem so sweet and dear.