Time Is Winding Down

I am almost certain that this is the longest break I have taken from blogging since I started. Between learning how to pressure can food and home renovations, I have been very busy! It's hard to believe that we are getting ready to head back to Canada.  Time has moved much too quickly....:-(.  Anyway, here's hoping that everyone's new year has gotten off to a great start....:-).

The beginning of the visit was expensive!  It seems that every year for the past 6 we have had to have some major repair down on the house that was unexpected.  And just about every year, we have had to have "something: done in regard to our sewer line.  We finally fired our company that we had had a relationship with for the past almost 20 years and had the work done through someone else.  I figured when we follow their advice and every year is more expensive and still not fixed.... it was time to move on!  We have now replaced the entire sewer line from the clean outs to both bathrooms and haven't had a problem yet.

The good side of all of this is that the soil has been worked!  haha.  So, if I decide to put any bulbs in, it should be quite easy....:-).

The weather is starting to warm just a bit on some days.  It reached 70 degrees the other day and we pulled out some chairs and had a bit of a sit in the back yard for a few minutes.....:-).

Another project that we did was replacing windows.  You know it's time when the inside feels like the outside during a winter storm....haha.  This is one of our kitchen windows.  Looking good....:-).

Although the weather has been pleasant in spots, it's usually too cold to ride unless you have a lot of warm gear or heated stuff on your bike.  So, for now, Raspberry and Rascal will remain under cover in the storage area.......

 And Ruby will stay in my office complete with helmet and "Monkey Butt" powder.....

One of the things we had to deal with this year was ferrel cats using our flower beds as their personal toilets.  We didn't really notice until we made an inspection of the windows around the house and managed to track cat poo onto the front porch!  The war was on!  We called animal control who recommended that we obtain some "live traps" for the little creatures and that they would take care of it if we call them.  So, we did.  This came with a small and large trap in which we managed to catch 4 cats and a possum if you can believe that!  

Now maybe whatever the cat urine didn't kill can start to grow.   I think we have a large monetary loss of plants between cats, heat from last year, and lack of "know how" when it comes to caring for a garden.  Nevertheless,  hope springs eternal!

Sooo, there's the update.  Did I mention that I have been sick as s dog the last couple of days?  No?  Well, I have been sick as a dog the last couple of days and suffering with a toothe ache from the crown work of a crappy dentist that needs to be redone or the tooth removed.  Gotta like that....
Well, until I can get to the dentist; which I do not want to do with a bad cold; I will just keep taking my meds.    

with a lot of vitamin -C and hope to be rid of this stuff before hitting the road and heading back to BC! 

 
Stay warm, y'all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FELLOW RIDERS....:-)

I would suppose that everyone is gearing up for the holidays with only 2 more days before Christmas.  We have been very busy here and in the middle of the busyness, we were able to make a quick trip out of town and get a few other things done; like watch my secretary throw up a couple of decorations.

Here is a picture of a nativity scene sitting on the floor in front of a room divider.

And a tiny Christmas tree sitting on the electric fireplace in front of a window.

Off to the mall we went.  Out of town was the best option seeing as I had been under steam and meat for several weeks!  It was time to hit the road and do a little Christmas browsing.
 

I was on the hunt for some new jeans for the guy whose legs seem to go on forever.  He was smiling like an expectant mother.....:-).

Well, time to eat!  You know how we are by now......:-)

There is a potato under all of that ranch and cheese.......:-)

But I gotta tell, you nothing made me drool like this double over stove display in a window at the mall.
If  I was 10,000 richer, I would snag it in a minute!

After a loooooong search for pants that would accommodate the legs that stretch into never land, we finally found the right size at the Men's WearHouse.

He's gonna like the way he looks.....:-)

I really enjoyed sitting down for a spell and listening to different people sit down and play different songs on the piano across the hallway.

After a stint about town, we decided to make a run past the theater to see if anything interesting was playing.  NO.  We headed home.

When we got back to town, we made a run through a light display that was located in the city park.

I remember when they started doing this a few years ago.  It used to line one of the main streets in our city and went almost for three city blocks.  Now, everything looks pretty spread out.

My lens is not a good one for night shots, but I had to get a picture of that tree......:-)

And the wooden soldiers.......

Several days later we had a Christmas party at our house and dinner was included at a restaurant of choice for our SW team members of our ministry.  We have done this for a few years now as sometimes we are still in Canada when Christmas comes around.  This time we got to go with them.....:-)

And went back to the house to open gifts.

It has been a full few weeks and Christmas is just two days away.  It is hard to believe that in just a little over a week we will be in 2015.....wow....  When I was 5, I was sure the world would have ended by now!  hahaha.....

Anyway, "Raspberry" and "Rascal" are asleep while Ruby turned into the Christmas Scooter; courtesy of Scootard.....:-)  I hope to get a little rest before this year is out.  Who wants to enter another year...tired?!  haha.

Thanks for traveling with us and doing life with us throughout this year.  We look forward to seeing all of your again in 2015.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

We Be Chillin!

Living in the Southwestern part of the US can be very unpredictable in regard to weather.  We had been enjoying a couple of days that landed the temperatures in the 70's.  Nothing like 70 degree weather in late fall.

Chris was anxious to go for a ride.  I, on the other hand know the weather patterns in this part of the country and was not too keen on the idea of going.  Nevertheless, I geared up and got ready to head out for our ride.

  It was already 2:30 in the afternoon and the sense of "foreboding" was getting heavier as we traveled toward the gas station.   Rascal needed a "drink".....:-).

We hit the highway and no sooner than we did, the wind shifted, the temperature dropped and that sick, sinking feeling of "this is a mistake" took over my brain!  Fortunately, once we were able to come to a stop on a side road, I was able to put my insert into my gear. Chris seemed to be doing well as he has a stronger tolerance for the cold than I do.

I got my jacket a bit more insulated  That helped a bit in regard to the shiver I was starting to experience.

Before pulling off again, I took a quick look in the mirror to see if I was "still there" or if I had turned into a fudge sickle yet!  Misery was slowly creeping into my bones and the wind was sucking the heat right off of me.  We had gone about 15 miles at that point.  The plan was to ride for a couple of hours.

The plan was to ride to and through the wild life refuge.  We made it to the back gate and snapped a quick picture.

After another several miles of shivering and misery, I made the announcement....." I'VE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE! I'M FREEZING!"  yep, that's me...making a run for it! I was soooo cold, that I was starting to "get warm" which is the first signs of hypothermia.

 We headed back toward town which was close to 25 miles away.  By now, I can't feel my hands. We headed for a dollar store to snag some hot cocoa mix.

Well, a fictitious form of hot cocoa.....  No real cocoa powder to be found at this store and it was too cold to go on a hunt for any.

Rascal was put in the house in the storage room next to Raspberry.......

And Ruby was put in my office inside the house........:-).

I never did drink the hot chocolate.  All I wanted to do was get into some warmer clothes and thaw my feet out.  Now, I can start to thaw out!

Two days later, I'm still thawing out!  I guess I could have put some lotion on those legs before posting this! haha .  Anyway,  I think I'll pass on that kind of adventure in the future....:-(.

See you next time!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! -Breaking with tradition

I'm not much on turkey in any form for several reasons.  But I do like the holiday season when it comes around.  Today was Thanksgiving day and as I was thinking of all of the things that frustrated me this year.  It had been a difficult week with projects and people that sorely worked my nerves.  But I took a few minutes, stilled myself and thought of the things that I was thankful for.  God, country, family, "true" friends and providential care are just a few things that I reflected on.  It was what I needed to do to turn the day around.

I was thankful for all of the food that I have learned to can in the past 2 months although I did lose about 4 jars out of the 60 jars I had.  The last thing to be done before venturing out for my holiday meal was the washing of the last few jars I had completed the night before.  I pressure canned five pints of corn and 4 quarts of sweet potatoes.....:-).

After washing all of those jars, we headed out to one of our favorite US restaurants named Golden Corral.  After having cooked everyday for almost 2 months, I wasn't about to cook for Thanksgiving.  Having no family here in Oklahoma equaled no real reason to cook a large meal when somebody else could do it for us........for cheap!

We arrived about 2 hours after they started serving and the line was out to the parking lot....haha.  Now, I was not annoyed by this because having worked in the food service industry as a professional, I knew that last night's left overs would be the very FIRST thing out on the line.  By the time we arrived, the food was "fresh".....:-).  If you look closely you will see me.  I'm the dot at the very near corner of the building.

and it wasn't too cold for me to be out.  I figured we would hit the register in 30 minutes.  

And so we did!  ahhhhhh, when I survey the wondrous buffet..........:-).

 Every bite I took, I groaned and sighed.  It was THAT GOOD.  haha.  Now, I'm not sure if it was because I could have all I wanted, of what ever I wanted for............wait for it...............(drum roll)........
 $12.00 BUCKS a person (plus tax of course).

 That's right, folks.  GOD BLESS THE USA is all I can say.  haha

And "Sir Scraggle McSquarley" wasn't having any problems piling on the goods.  I just don't know where he puts it all!

Having successfully devoured "round one"........(he looks far too happy right now)........

He headed back to the food bar for "round two".........and three......I watched in amazement as he ascended onto the food bar once again!

He emerged with the booty of the spoils.......complete with new "eating irons"......:-).  smh..

I was stuffed after my "one plate" and ready to head to the house to sleep off the food I had just consumed.
Thankful for the blessings of much when so many have so little.  Twenty eight bucks and some change for a wonderful meal with my wonderful man.   Who could ask for anything more.  At least not today.....:-)

     HAPPY THANKS GIVING, AMERICA!!