Yeah...staying home

Boo...I'm fighting off something or other...hopefully I didn't bake whatever into my goodies! High fever, chills, sore muscles...not good today, hopefully better tomorrow.

E-chatting - is that a word? can it be? with cousin Tara and I have a new author to search out in the new year. She's reading Carved In Bones by Jefferson Bass ... apparently if you like CSI and Patricia Cornwall type books, then this may be a great match for you. Love books! Love my library card!

We don't need sweets, do we?

Here it is Dec 19 and I've only begun some holiday baking. I did up 2 batches of Auntie Kay's yummy butter tarts...one with and one without raisins...Heather is so picky sometimes, but I do seem to cater to her needs/wants!

I have all the fixings for the white chocolate cranberry loaves from last year's cookie exchange...but seems every time I get my mixer out the phone rings and off I go in a totally different direction!

Oh well, isn't the road paved with good intentions?

So there may or may not be a variety of yummies for Lucie's brunch and Christmas Day. If there is, enjoy them, they were made with love.

If there isn't, thank me for starting your New Year's Resolution to eat healthier early!

Cheers!

How did that happen? With all the extras on my list today, I managed to bake a couple of white chocolate cranberry loaves! You gotta love the smell of baking that has lots of butter in it! This however may be the last of my baking before the holidays...seems a certain someone has asked me to join him on a quick overnight trip to Rainbow & Zama! Check your maps...I got to dig out my long johns!

Happy Day Jonathan!

Jonathan Robert Angus
Cute & cool through & through!

Happy Birthday
Love Nannie & Papa!

That was some Saturday drive!

Joe learned early that there was a huge problem in the field and seeing as most of the managers /supervisors in town were working on the turkey dinner for 900 in SK Sunday...Joe was the logical one to fix the problem.

So after starting his day @ 5:30 am in Fort Saskatchewan, Joe called me and asked if Iw anted to go for a drive with him.

Funny man! I packed a quick lunch with the 40 minutes notice and Cody & I climbed into the 1 ton and off we went. The whole trip was ~ 800 kms, lots of it on the back private roads leading into the remote camp. That was not fun. I like to know on the map exactly where I am...not driving by directions - go this far on this road, turn here, proceed 8 kms, and a left...etc.All the directions were based on the city office so once we got to the first camp, loaded up we had to get new directions to proceed north from where we were...instead of back tracking 2 hours before going north again.

Our mid point of the drive was Red Earth Creek AB...a remote camp town where within 10 minutes of getting there, the task was done & we were headed back home. You don't realize how dark it gets without any light pollution and with blowing snow swirling around. Oh well, Joe got the save on the problem and a few hours sleep before heading to SK this morning with the rest of the crew to put on the big dinner.

Oh yeah...tomorrow is Monday - regular day at the office!

Tis the Season!

Where has the time gone? I know I had a great lunch date with Joe...he came home early from work, we did some shopping and then had the most leisurely meal at East Side Mario's - yum! What made this especially special was knowing that Joe will be working full out from today through to the 21st. One of his most challenging tasks, besides coordinating all the drivers/trucks/vans for the staff runs so they can all enjoy their time off with family, is the turkey dinner for 900 in nearby Saskatchewan on Sunday afternoon. I only hope the weather holds out and roads are good...this is the only thing that can upset the big plan. Earlier this week, we made our annual contribution to our Secret Santa project. The elves are busy with last minute touches and soon the special delivery will be made to a deserving family.

Here is my most current shot of Frederick the Literate. I started him May 2007, and had HUGE hopes of completing him along with Bliss and Margaret but it's not meant to be. My progress came to an almost stand still with the fading natural light...but soon that trend will reverse itself and I'm sure the stitches will come easier each passing day. I had an unfortunate incident not too long ago, ended up with a frogging task. Lesson learned...no more rushing!

These are Joe's collection of Nutcrackers...all received this year from Aaron & Lesley. It's part of an inside joke about Joe attending the ballet last year! Seems the macho guys never spoke of this until recently and then it was like a cat being like out of a bag! Nothing was sacred anymore. I see more nutcrackers in Joe's future! You lucky guy!

Along with holiday baking to do this weekend while Joe is serving up turkey and all the trimmings, I have slippers to knit for Alex...seems he has just discovered just how comfy they are at the exact time his feet are growing leaps and bounds. But if I recall correctly, they grew this time last year...example, his skates fit before the holidays and the next time they were up, poor Alex's feet wouldn't fit! I'd rather replace slippers any day than ice skates for growing boys!

Just in case this is my last posting before Christmas, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. If you are traveling, take care on the roads.

May you have the Gladness of Christmas which is Hope
The Spirit of Christmas which is Peace
The Heart of Christmas which is Love.
~Ada V. Hendricks~

No doubt about it!

I am behind in the times! There, I said it, it's out in the open.

Here's a good example of how my train of thoughts usually unfold...

• Since my 101 things - listening to all my discs...was checked off, I've started watching all those vhs tapes that I've made/collected over the years. I'm presently watching Jumpin Jack Flash circa 1986 while on the treadmill. There in a commercial break was Pong! circa 1976! Guess what, I missed a step - not pretty!
• Pong got me to thinking that games have come a looong way since then...Joe kids me about having a Commodore 64! Now he thinks he wants something newer...I suggested he research it and get back to me! Tee Hee
• Back to VHS - that was a huge step for us...yes we were of the BETA era! Here we are, slowly getting into DVD's and out comes BLUE RAY! DUH!

So, I'm not sure where this train is heading, but head is spinning and I think it's counter clockwise...not good when you have a touch of vertigo!

Blog, Blogger & Bloglines

Blog is short for web log...a place to journal your thoughts

Blogger is a "Free, automated weblog publishing tool" on which we publish our thoughts

Bloglines is "A web-based personal news aggregator that can be used in place of a desktop client"

With Joe busy at work with their 100 days of h*ll, Bloglines is an easy way to monitor who has new posts without having to visit each site individually! Also he won't miss another's posting.

And for clarification, both of us use Lil Salmon House

Previously we had discussed painting our abode a grey green next year...but...seems our dear neighbours changed their minds...their renovations are continuing and forest green siding is going on. Oh well, there are more paint colours than siding...we may go with Plan B...whatever that is!

Who is Alex Trebek?

Recovering from a mild heart attack at the age of 67 at Cedar -Sinai.

Where is everyone?

I just set Joe up with his very own Bloglines account so he can keep track of new blog posts from the family. He know has 18 feeds and 159 posts to read! Don't forget to check it on a regular basis!

It was during this time that I realized how little family members are blogging! I don't want to name names, but you know who you are! So what is going on?

• Forgot your log in information?
• Too busy with life?
• Nothing to say?
• Gone over to Facebook and didn't tell me/us?
• Can't be bothered

With all the holiday stress mounting ever so high, I could use the distraction - please re-consider updating your blog! It's good for my blood pressure, knowing there is someone out there...I think......is there????........hello????...........anyone?........where's the light switch...it's dark here....and ....oh...so....lonely.....

Baby, It's Cold!

Time: 6:35 am this morning


Temperature: - 15'C


Location: Lil Salmon House!


**We don't usually get this snow build up over the roof edge until mid to late winter...a possible sign to bundle up for a long winter's night!

Is it only funny to me?

I was in Chapters today with Amanda...she was looking for reading material for her flight home tomorrow. I came across this book and immediately started to smile!

I browsed through a few pages...but put it down...maybe I'll get it one way or the other!!!!

I also looked at the huge selection of calendar's they offered. I couldn't help but remember the last year my father did his own holiday shopping for us...everyone got a calendar. Most were those page a day ones, which we loved....especially those with jokes etc. Dad selected a woman's issue one for me, and I was so touched. He wasn't that far gone in his Alzheimer's journey - he knew that I have strong thoughts on that subject.

Today I was somewhat taken aback to see a calendar based on The Secret by Rhonda Byrne...but then I thought...why not? There were the usual ones with pets, golf tips etc...and then in the corner I spotted one with a great title...Why do Men have Nipples????? and I thought...why not! So, have some fun every day, smile every day and lighten up...the world is a serious place!

Not good!

Just read about some Bathurst homes in danger of slipping over the edge...I feel for the families.

One of my favorite things!

Fleece sheets!

They are so warm and comfy, weigh almost nothing and they wash up like a dream! 20 minutes in the dryer on medium heat...and they are ready to go back on the bed!

Consider a set for yourself! Or another for me! I'm a Queen, if you please!

What a busy month for birthdays!

I wouldn't want to miss anyone so here is a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following family & friends celebrating a birthday December.

Henry, Maddy, Mitch,Bradley,Tamara, Jonathan, Jennifer, Allison & Meaghan.

If I've overlooked someone, please forgive me and help me out with a quick comment and I will add you to my perpetual calendar of special dates!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Never heard of this locally

Cochrane muralwas recently unveiled and I heard about it through a Yahoo group for cross stitchers...Living in the same province, you would think the proud artists and local governments would have received province wide publicity on this. Perhaps the media in southern Ab did pick it up...but it was lost on the way north. Hopefully this isn't another case of Them - Calgarians vs Us - Edmontonians. How high school is that?

Anyways, it well worth a peak! And is you are in the area, check it out at the Ranchehouse! Maybe it's time we go visit Kate & Jeff!

Tis the Season to be Baking!

I'm sure lots of folks are preparing for their holiday favorites. I just heard from my dear friend Peggy in Nova Scotia, and she's getting ready to make a couple of fruitcakes! If you've never made one, you won't appreciate the hard work that goes into them, especially the mixing of the fruit!!! It's hard work. One person who does know this is Nannie Mac. She mixes up a few batches every year and if you are lucky and Uncle David isn't around, you may get a taste! Love ya David, despite this fault!

If on the other hand you don't have recipes that have been passed from grandmother to mother to you, here's some recipes that hold much promise! leave it to TipNut to have the best hints & tips for a good life!