Skill or dumb luck?

Flashback to a conversation I had with Joe early December...he was thinking of getting another computer for the home so he could play some games. I said he could play them on my computer, but he had worries about tying it up when I needed to do some of my work.

Ok, then he thought he would get a games system. He's played them a bit @ Les's but not enough to get the real feel of what the features were.

Now this past weekend, we had a chance to play their new Wii...and it seems to be the match we were looking for. So after a quick Sunday morning match with Joey on the cooking game, we headed north in the blizzard with the parting words..."Papa is going to get his own Wii!"

Well after that horrid drive we stopped into B*st B*y and they didn't quite laugh at us, not in our faces anyways. Well I was in town yesterday and by chance stopped into Z*ll*er's and they said they didn't have any. Imagine my surprise when Joe called on his lond drive home to say he would be even longer because he had to stop by Z to pick up his Wii! Seems he called earlier and sweet talked whomever answered his call and said they had 1 but it was already spoeken for and should be picked up by 4. Well Joe left his name and number and guess what wasn't picked up as scheduled...so we now have a Wii. It's still in the box...Joe had a HUGE day...some work, 1 staff car accident as they were all leaving work and then another staff had their truck die...no tow trucks, no help, find a way to get it to a shop on your own sore of deal...But Mark @ Dynamotive was awesome and helped out with some calls. Long story short, after doing a P*mpered Ch*f exchange for a guy at work...Joe had supper after 8! So no Wii time...tonight doesn't look much better.

Let me guess what Joe will be doing while I'm quilting this weekend with the guild! But I don't get it...why is there such a huge demand, people waiting months for this unit and it only took Joe 4 days - 1 actual day of trying - to get his console?

Heard you loud & clear!

Okay, so there is an audience out there...lurkers I think they are called. But no matter, so long as I'm not doing this just for me. Got to keep the family on the loop of what is going on in our lives!

We are in Day 4 of this cold snap...sad news out of SK, 2 youngsters froze to death. So difficult to comprehend in this day and age. But there whole story isn't out yet, may never be public knowledge, but you have to say a quiet little prayer for the family.

My car was royally frozen and I finally got it going yesterday ~ 4 pm. Joe went with me into the city for run some errands and get things moving. Hopefully it'll start better today. I have banking to do for Dad and because of the nature of laws/banking cards/trustee accounts, I have to actually go into the bank and talk to a teller EVERY time! What a pain! I've tried to just get a convenience card for deposits only but they won't/can't do that without first changing legislation. I doubt very much that this will ever see the light of day because in the global sense...it affects so few people. I'll get over it!

Joe had a heck of a day yesterday. Started with a phone call @ 5:45am - 2 from the warehouse weren't going anywhere until their vehicle thawed out. It went downhill from there. A camp that was to start up...all of Joe's stuff was out there ready to go...is badly delayed for one reason or another. So there is staff, trucks, groceries sitting waiting and on the clock! Now to work out who absorbs that unexpected expense! Poor Joe, no wonder he had ringing in his ears!!!!

I'm hoping to get my baby quilt sandwiched today...I have a quilting meeting Saturday but I'm not sure I want to take this and work on it or not. I'd be a table hog and need lots of room and I can spread out quite nicely at home. So I may be starting a new project or working on the label for the charity quilt.

FYI - Lesley is getting quite the collection of items for our auction in March...pop over to Team Crockett and check it out. I heard someone else may be bidding on the autographed cookbook...check your pockets for more money Heather! There's a couple of things that caught my eye...I hope I'm not too busy with the food & bartending to check my bids!!!! I think a Handy Man for a half day would be useful...I'd have to put Phil up here for the weekend but hey...we could make a party out of it. Maybe we'd get that arbour built this year!

Hope everyone stays warm and safe today! Thanks for the feedback...it was just what I needed to break the writer's block...or is it diarrhea of the mouth????? You tell me!

Hey - thanks for popping in!!!!

My dearest friend Peggy stopped by...so maybe I'm feeling a little more love in blog world! FYI - Michael Smith is 6'8" tall! I'm 5'3" so that's a difference of 17" LARGE inches!!!!! He is a very personable man, down to earth and very approachable which is why meeting him has been the highlight of this year to date. I've been watching his shows forever and look forward to seeing the biography they are doing on him. Not sure but if Kevin Brausch has anything to do with it, I'm sure it'll air on the Food Network. Thanks for stopping by, don't be a stranger!

There is life out there!!!!!! It's probably just the cold getting to me that I feel so isolated...so i just downloaded an e audio book from the library! Thanks for stopping by!

Should I leave or should I stay?

No, I'm not leaving Joseph...I'm referring to blogspot. Seems I have a few faithful readers...Nannie for instance...I heard she worries if I don't post for 3 days running. And our dear kids keep track of us via the blog.

No matter what I post with or without some cool photos, I'm not getting any feedback from family & friends...so am I just fulfilling my own wish to be a published writer? Should I go back to letters to the editors??????

It's like throwing a party and no comes!

So, will you come to my blog and leave me a note of some sort so I know I'm not alone?

Okay, now that's pathetic...asking for visitors...yeesh...the next thing you know, we'll throw a wedding or something just to get people out our way!!!!!

Stay warm, remember to wear your long johns...I am...so I'm warm but I don't like the way my outer pants grab...so the sacrifices to stay warm during an Alaskan clipper!!!!! Today is a balmy minus 35'Celsius...no wind so if you dress warm, it's ok's better than yesterday. Now to go and see if the car will start!

Now I'm embarassed!

lilsalmonhouse.blogspot.com

WANTED FOR THE INTENSE DRY-HUMPING of a WEALTHY BATMOBILE

$2700

What's Your Blog Wanted For?

Smiles x 2!

What a weekend!

Keep in mind this all came together in less than 6 days, and it started with an innocent email inquiring about someone's where abouts...these military people can sure breeze into your life, change it and breeze out.

I/we owe our friend Steve a huge THANK YOU! for setting up this meeting with
Chef Michael Smith over the weekend. CPO1 Bill Pratt was very busy but very accommodating and here are some shots from this whirlwind adventure. The highlight was meeting the big guy himself, but to see the behind the scenes was priceless. Those shows like Chef at Large and The Heat show the real deal...and it's intense.

Chef Smith is as he appears on his Chef at Home shows, very personable and down to earth. After a quick 'heads together' to discuss the plating of the fish course, he came over for our photo shoot. As he walks towards us he grabs this huge pot from the rack, flips it over, pats the top and tells me to hop up! I don't think this was the first or last time he did that!

Then he really starts to ham it up! Keep in mind he and his crew are about 6 hours away from serving a $600/plate meal to ~ 350 people!!!!! Top that off with a film crew underfoot to document the occasion for an upcoming feature.

I can only say that he is a true star in every sense of the word. There is no pretense, he's the real thing!

Besides the photo memories we left with 2 autographed cookbooks...one to me and the other to Team Crockett for our upcoming fund raiser....you know...I may have to bid on that one just to keep the pair together and have ALL the memories!


Thanks again to Steve, Bill and Chef Smith!

Clear the dining table!

I have a quilt sandwich to make as soon as the backing is dried and ironed! I'm so excited about this part, seeing it come to life although I'm sure I'll have some tense moments when the actual quilting starts! I also have researched different label styles...I've labeled my others, but they went to family so I was not as thorough. This time I will include our team name as well as the other particulars. I hope someone bids on it, besides me! Have a great weekend...we have something planned for Saturday which involves driving to Cowtown for a quick meeting. Wish us well and clear roads!

Knock, Knock! I'm back!

Not sure where I went but I hope I had a good time!

Things are progressing with my training...I've got more company now...William Shakespeare! I do enjoy my music but i don't want to do that intensity all the time...I get going and I'm way over my target heart rate. So I checked out the BBC version of As You Like it and am quite enjoying it. I plan on working through all the ones the library has. Who knows, maybe it will sharpen my Jeopardy game! One can hope!

The days are getting longer so I'm back working on Frederick. I wonder if i can get moving enough to finish before the 1 year mark? Stay tuned.

Alex called me this morning with the cutest little song he just learned. The problem...I can't find it in myself to erase them! I now have 9 stacked up! I think I have 3 versions of Joey's Button/Butter factory story. I hear one thing, Joe hears the other...so maybe Lesley can clarify where Joe works! I usually have one message from Joe saved for those days when he goes away unexpectedly...I can listen to his voice over and over! What a softie i am! Who knew?

Well I must catch up on my blog reading...stuff has taken me away...some of which I'll blog about after the TALL weekend!

Team Crockett baby quilt update

I'm donating a baby quilt to the coffers for the Team Crockett Ch*nese Auction this coming March 7 and here's a quick peak.

I have the borders all planned out on paper, just need to cut them out. I'll stitch them this weekend at the QUIL gathering. I'm unsure of the backing...I 'll see how the borders look and then decide which colour to highlight. I suppose I should make a label with all the pertinent details so the lucky winner will have it for prosperity!

Joe & I have volunteered to work the bar. Oh, we are also doing the food!!!!!! Sounds like the start of a catering job, doesn't it? Another case of lots of things to do and only limited time, but we do like the push the envelope! Have a great day everyone, I'm off to the Garden Club meeting tonight - we're having a fund raising auction...must get some cash$$$$$!

Good news/bad news

After 2 sets of x-rays and a consultation with the Urologist, Joe seems to be in the pink. Previously they identified a 5 mm kidney stone - ouch! - but it's gone now. So it was either passed or it's gone back up inside the kidney. Nothing to do but drink a glass of milk every day and should there be a recurrence, go in for the CT scan.

With that goes Joe's excuse to sit back while I've been chalking up the miles! Tee Hee...I love it!!!!

A workout break through

As most and hopefully all of you know, I'm part of team Crockett and we are entered into this year's Alberta's Cancer Foundation's Underwear Affair, Calgary edition. It's either a 5 km walk or 10 km run.

As much as I hoped, I can't run! It hurts my back too much and the agony in the following days isn't worth even this good cause. It sucks having had a bad back injury so many years ago...but that's my life, I deal with it as best as I can.

So I'm officially a walker! I peaked at last year's times and I only know that I don't want to be the last one to cross the finish line....so...I've been training hard. Not to the point of injury...I did take 2 days off while I wasn't feeling well, but to the point where I am challenging myself! I'm sweating!

Today was the first time this year that things seemed to come together and Ta Da...I did 1.75 miles in 30 minutes which puts me on course for a 53-54 minute walk! I'd be pleased with that...but you know me, don't you...I'm going to try and maintain that pace for a while, get the heart rate down a smidge and then challenge that time.

So if you could, show your support...every dollar goes towards a great cause that isn't nearly enough in the headlines. It has struck my family, let's hope for the last time! Go to our web page Team Crockett and pledge today. FYI - I've have 3 sponsors to date ...2 online with a credit card and one cash to me & I mailed in a cheque. So do what you are comfortable with. Thank you one and all! If you can't be a sponsor, be a motivator. Check your local area for a similar run and go out there and cheer the teams on!

Delivered & they are a hit!

Joe took the weekend trip to Calgary by himself...I stayed at home with my head cold. Aaron is still recuperating from strep throat and I didn't want to exchange ailments. We both have too many things to do besides being sick.
Anyways, Joe delivered the new Batman buckwheat bags to Thing 1 & Thing 2. I forget to pass along that these have an inner bag with the wheat...just in case the pretty cover gets a spill. I heard that Thing 2 immediately had his warmed and put it to use! I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon...er...maybe not...I'm looking forward to getting my original back Monday!

Tad bit late for the holidays but

This is still a clever tip for those who like to take a liquid hostess gift when they visit!

Am I doing this on my own?

10 Worst Foods in 2007 I got this from Spark People today and I'm so happy that I haven't eaten any of those...but that doesn't mean I've been a good girl, otherwise I wouldn't be the size and shape I am!

For those not in the loop, I've joined up and am hoping that this will keep me accountable! Despite trying to tag team with Lesley & my friend Brenda online, I'm a slacker most days. And Lesley has so nicely pointed out that the Team Crockett race is just 6 months away!

Now folks, I seriously need to get off my *ss and get moving...who's with me?
My progress is up and out there is all it's ugliness but each day is an opportunity for me to do my best in everything I do.

He had such big hopes!

Renovations continued over the Christmas/New Year holidays and Joe had hoped that this past weekend, his new office would be done except for the door installation.

We went into the office Saturday morning, Joe spoke with the painters and the fellow working on the telephone lines etc. They said they would finish the painting & wall papering over the weekend so Joe could finally get off his mobile trolley cart he's been using. Well we went back to the office on Sunday.

The painting wasn't finished...it looks like a different colour or sheen in the one corner they did. No wallpaper and the lights still don't work. All the other lights in the other offices & cubicles are shining brightly not Joe's office without windows is in complete darkness!

The topper on all this good news...they took the sheet Joe had over his mobile desk, protecting his computer from dry wall dust, had been removed and was now on the floor of another cubicle, covered in paint! They used it as a drop cloth!

I hope Joe's Monday ends on a higher note than it is starting on!

**** Not sure why but I've been getting not so nice 'adverts' in my comments so...after deleting them and one accidental one - sorry! I've switched to comments moderation. I'll see how that goes over the next few weeks. Thanks for understanding****

Happy Day Heather & Candice

What a day for beautiful women to have been born!

Hope you each have a great time celebrating with family & friends.

What a day!

We went to check out a new-to-us produce store that I had heard so much about...yes the prices are great despite the smallness of the shop.

But the real bonus was...

I found my buckwheat!!!!!! I bought 2 bags and will make Thing 1 & Thing 2 each their own heating bag...hopefully I can get my original back! I'll use some fun fabric for the boys...! Happy day.

DH surprised me with some birthday goodies last night. Besides BBQ up some sumptuous burgers that accompanied a awesome salad (good enough to rival Olive G*rden's!) he also got me a floss winder and more plastic bobbins and a scrapbooking tote on wheels! So now when I travel south for my lessons on all those neat techniques Lesley has learned, I'll be taking my stash in style! Thanks Joe!

And today...Joe got us our library membership at St Albert...so many books, so little time! So with that, I check off #92 on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days!

I have to be the luckiest person I know...all this love and attention! Life is great!

Thanks Everyone!

The calls, comments were all so welcomed! I don't feel a day over __________ you fill in the blank!

The new disc...awesome, a total departure from past Celine tunes. She has matured into an earthier more mature singer with just a touch of the blues! Love it! I can hardly wait for her concert in October.

Joe is gifting me with 2 entire libraries for a whole year! For those who have visited our lil town...the population has grown but our library hasn't...so technically that means less books per person. So as of Saturday, I shall be a member of the St Albert library as well! When am I going to find time to blog???? or exercise???? I'll have to sign out more audio books and multi task with those awesome new headphones Joe got me for Christmas. I know I look like Princess Lela from Star Wars, but I can't fit those ear buds in my silly ears...they pop right out!

Well hope everyone has an awesome weekend, that our family down east have no extra snow to deal with this weekend! I'm going to enjoy our mini Chinook...ah...smell that BBQ!!!!! Bye

Happy Day!

Another birthday anniversary...I think I'm now middle aged....but I'm not sure! I don't want to grow up - by that I don't want to become a fuddy-duddy! I still have a lot of things I want to do/experience.

My darling family got me some nice gifts...take a look! All my faves...something creative, some beautiful music and a book I've wanted to read since it came out last autumn. Joe has promised me one of my most favorite suppers - homemade burgers, done on the BBQ - what are the chances of getting homemade fries over the weekend too!!!! Thanks everyone!

Looking for buckwheat hull source

We had a small houseguest between Christmas & New Year's. Although we only live ~ 3.5 hours north, there was a significant change in temperature & humidity or lack there of.

The first night, he insisted and I complied with a 'candles only' bath...and stayed for such a long time, singing his songs that the water got a bit cool. To help chase the chill away I warmed up my buckwheat (Craft Canada days) bag. Well that started something! I'd heat it up at bedtime and he would put it on his tummy to feel nice and toasty warm. He slept soundly every night in 'his' room!

Because of the drop in outdoors temperature just before we left for the exchange lunch in Red Deer, I again heated up the bag and he was a happy warm traveler. Can you see how I lost my bag????? Papa tried to take it back but the crocodile tears melted my heart and I had to give it to him.

So now I'm searching for a suitable replacement...I've heard that rice will work, but I really like the buckwheat smell...wish me luck!

Happy Birthday!

Those celebrating this month are...
Mike Diep, Cheryl M, Noella D, Me, Heather Lee M, Candice MH, Brian Beck, Lynn JM, Andrea TS, Josephine B, Jennifer TS & Angie JH
If I've missed you, please email me and I will add you to my list! Thanks

#32 Done!

That was my PJ day...I had a luxurious mid afternoon bath Dec 31 and put on one of my new flannel nightshirt (Thanks Les). What an awesome way to end 2007...candlelit roast beef dinner with roses & wine with Joe!

And to start 2008 on an equally great foot, I stayed in my pj's all day except for the time I was trotting on the treadmill! After my cool down, a nice refreshing shower and then my other flannel nightshirt! Does it get better than this? I think not!

2007 Review

We @ Lil Salmon House had a great 2007. Some trials & tribulations but so much more victories and smiles.

We now enjoy 3 grandsons, the youngest new to walking and all that entails, the middle a great thinker @ 4 and the eldest a veteran at solo sleep overs. Each unique in their own way and oh so precious.

We enjoyed lots of company from both family & friends. Some from down East, some from up the road. Our door is always open, the trick...to find us @ home!

Hockey came back into our lives...AJHL still offers great value for the money. We haven't been to an NHL game since per 2000. Our SIL is now a full fledge player...doesn't talk so much about the game standings as "did you see that hit?"!

Both Joe & I got lots of fresh air...but in different ways. I was happy to putter around in my greenhouse/garden while Joe was out on the open roads with his motorcycle. It sure was a nice way to decompress after a hectic day in the office!

We continued giving back to the community - a couple of school fundraising nights at the casino..handling all that money is a bit overwhelming.., supporting some food bank fundraisers, helping with our local library fundraiser and then there was a little visit from the man in the red suit...the kids so enjoyed him. He is already pre-booked for 2008! Hopefully this time we can coordinate everyone so all 3 of our grandsons can join the fun.

2008 will be personal bests for both Joe & I. We jumped on the Team Crockett band wagon and had better get moving...race date is fast approaching! It's THIS YEAR now!!!!!

On behalf of the Lil Salmon House, I wish you all health, happiness and much success in 2008!

Christmas with the grandchildren

Joey's style of opening presents...open quickly and then pile your stash up on the couch!
Alex preferred the open 2 presents and then go play...come back an hour later for more!
Auntie & Uncle arrived with more and it would appear Jonathan was up to something...
Yup...cardboard box investigating! Why bother with the presents when the box you brought them in holds the real mystique!

And when things get a little crazy and you are an aging dog...hide under the tree out of the way! Sorry Lyla...Cody got there first!

Hereeeee's Jonathan!

Look at this cutie...he turned 1 just before Christmas and he was lucky enough to both both set of grandparents on hand for the festivities.

Cake! Nice and squishy between my fingers!

Time to clean off before playing with my new toys!

Showing grandma my new FP train.