The Summer That Isn't!

I wish I could say that this has been a typical hot, sunny summer but it clearly isn't the case. I'm afraid the pattern has already been set and we can't seem to shake it. Every morning, I eagerly anticipate looking at the two week forecast, hoping for a different story but my session always ends in disappointment.

I am going to my sister's cottage this Sat. for a few days but I am probably not going to brave the colder than usual water; I am a self-confessed wimp when it comes to that!

Well, we can always go canoeing and furtively chase the loons with my camera. I wait all year to hear their lovely laughter and mournful cries. This is the best place to hear them any time of the day or night. I am really looking forward to that! The picture here is the best one yet and I rather doubt I will top that but it is always fun to try.

Maybe I will get a close-up of a blue heron as well.

My sisters and I will have a great time in spite of the weather and we always manage to keep up non-stop conversation. We can actually be quite hilarious at times! The little town is full of cool shops with interesting things, typical of a cottage area. Something to do on a rainy day! The meals will be splendid too and hopwfully, we can eat out on the deck.

I'm getting excited! Hope everyone else is having a great summer and please....send any hot sunny weather to us!

Cutting Some Rug?

DON'T ever do this: Put down a little scatter mat for your cats to use by the fireplace WITHOUT putting an under pad underneath first!

Two weeks ago I did this and came sailing into the room and slid onto the floor, tearing some ligaments in what was already my bad knee. I also badly sprained my ankle. The last 2 weeks have been nothing but icing, putting my leg up on my Lazy Girl chair, reading, and hobbling around with a cane. My cats haven't even noticed my pain, of course!

The one good thing is that I have read many good books: Nicholas Sparks', Dear John, Wally Lamb's, She's Come Undone, and the best one, The Book of Negroes which I am half way through now.

I've had lots of time to practice my choir concert songs, one of which is a duet I'm singing, JT's version of "You've Got a Friend". I'm singing the pretty higher harmony part. Hope we do it well this Sat.!!

Up here , lilacs are just out and lily of the valley too! It is actually going to be 28C today and that's unseasonably warm but we'll take it! I'm so on my deck!

Same Old, Same Old!

Hey there!

Just thought I'd do a check-in after a long snowy winter! Man, am I glad we're officially into spring!

Well, it must be spring because my husband has hung up his skis after competing well in about five major ski races and the bike has been out a few times. We've had our first thunderstorm. All kinds of tulips and daffs are up, and our forsythia is out. I've been out on my upper deck already and we've had several barbecues and we have already been sleeping in the summer bedroom!

I have continued to sing in two choirs as well as do a Gr. 4 reading and writing program every Tues. morning. Swimming has become almost a daily routine at 9:00 a.m. and I feel fairly good. I may even try out my mountain bike to see if my one sore knee can take it. That would be such a bonus! (Now, if I can only avoid the swine flu!)

I am so enjoying the spring and looking forward to the summer.

So what have you all been doing?

Have a happy, hopeful spring!

Happy 2009!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Holiday Season and here's wishing you a very Happy 2009.

Ours was a very busy season and I'm kind of glad it's over and we can get back to a regular routine of more sleep and less stress.

My parents celebrated their 65th on Dec. 15th. They have had an amazing marriage and are lucky beyond most people's wildest dreams. I think they look pretty darn good for 87 (mom) and 89!

Socks loved Christmas!

As did Mooky! She claimed this present!

I really think that I'll blog less in 2009 as I just have too many other areas in my life that I'm not covering as well as I should be. Thanks for reading my blog and commenting and I'll try to get around to yours every so often.

Mother of Invention

Birthday/Christmas

Today's my 55th birthday! I can hardly believe I have lived that long. I feel more like 35 in my mind....my body on the other hand, feels much older. Too many health issues and aches and pains!

I've not found time to read many blogs this fall and perhaps I'll do more when the cocooning season is upon us for the long winter months ahead. Just wanted to say to everyone, Have a fabulous holiday season! Enjoy your family and friends and try not to get too stressed!

Mooky Goes To The Dentist!

Yesterday, my 4 year-old cat, Mooky, had her 2 canine teeth plus 3 other teeth extracted. She apparently has bad gum disease and was in discomfort while eating. We'll never know whether this was really needed and just a money grab-scam by the vets, but I guess we have to trust them...to the tune of $560.

She came home quite drowsy and later, wobbly on her feet. She also was leaking urine for awhile. The vet gave her a needle for anti-biotic that will last 2 weeks, plus a needle for pain. We have to continue giving her liquid oral pain meds for 4 days. Mooky has switched to soft food, needless to say!

Her usual habit of rubbing her cheeks on everything has been slightly curtailed...that is to say, she starts to do it and then quickly realizes that it hurts so stops....but then continues to do this over and over again ! Such is the way of strongly ingrained habits of animals!

Poor Mooks!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving if you're celebrating that today. Now it's on to Christmas and all that goes with that. I have actually got a few prexents bought already!

Here's something I got today and sent on to some people:

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags! My hands can no long do the wrapping thing.

2. Real tree or Artificial? One of each…We have a Balsam or Fraser Fir given to us each year from Somerville’s, a real beauty! This year I have an artificial for upstairs.

3. When do you put up the tree? First week in Dec. hopefully for the artificial, about Dec. 18th for the other….it has to last till Jan. 4rth for the office brunch!

4. When do you take the tree down? Likely Jan. 9th.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it but can’t indulge too much and never with rum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My pink stuffed pug dog, Floppy, which was a great pajama bag! Wish I still had him! Betsy Wetsy and Thumbelina dolls were up there too!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself!!! HA! any females actually.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? A wee plastic one that Dave gave his mom when he was 7! AW!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Real live cards. I love looking at and choosing cards!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Boy’s Clipper flannel pajamas that my Grandma got by mistake! I actually tried to pee out of the fly!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Tie between A Christmas Carol (Alistair Simms) and Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Right after Christmas at the sales and I shop for gifts all year long and put them away in the Gift Section of my attic!! I get surprised the next year when I re-discover what I bought and had forgotten!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? YES, a few times but they were good ones!

. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Marzipan Squares and shortbreads!

16. Lights on the tree? I LOVE lights, especially the mini-white ones. My house is full of them..

17. Favorite Christmas song? Coventry Carol and Mary Did You Know (Google it and listen to Kenny Rogers sing it! http://www.gospel-disco-network.co.uk/mary%20did%20you%20know.htm

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Near home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? No. Only 5.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star when we were kids but now an angel that lights up.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning ..stockings first, then presents after breakfast.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowded malls…I avoid them by going early.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? White lights, wine colour and ivory,

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Gotta be traditional Turkey

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A big deep narrow salad bowl that you can toss salad in with bowls to match!

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? People who are not too busy….I don’t expect too many will.