It has been a very long time since I posted last, when I look back over the blog I see that I last posted one month almost to the day before I tragically lost my only son, Jesse.  I cannot even begin to explain what these last 3 years have been like.  I guess over time that will come.

Fall 2011

This weekend started off a bit chilly especially for the weatherman's prediction that Friday would be a balmy 27 here in Northern Alberta.  However, Saturday was 26 degrees and it is already warm this morning as I had my coffee on the back deck.  Too many chores to do today, Stephanie and I are finding with school and work that we need to get a better grip on our meals so we need to come up with a plan for the week.  Duane was working away from home the last two and 1/2 months so we could basically get away with eating when we want and what we want.  With Duane home we need a supper menu. We are glad he is home, we needed someone to do the heavy lifting as we have completed some summer projects and we couldn't do a lot of it on our own. 

The leaves are a lovely shade of yellow and within the next week or two if we get a strong wind will be gone however God has created a lovely backdrop for pictures with family and friends.  Last week we took pictures of my Son and his family and today it should be our turn.  I can't remember the last picture Duane and I took together, it seems like he ends up in a majority of them and I am the one taking the picture. 

My Mom will be 60 on October 11th and we are planning a family gathering for her the weekend after, what a whirlwind of activity just trying to get this set up.  We are hoping it will be a nice day spent with family.

August---where is summer going?!?!

Well, the long weekend seemed to fly by with a "flurry" of activity, literally was cold enough for warm weather clothes, this Alberta weather can drive you crazy sometimes.  I am hoping the month of August brings our area some warmth but I guess I will take what I can get.  One more week until holidays...crossing my fingers that my work projects will get off the ground officially, darn technology.

A few more weeks til the yellow buses come down our road, one more year, my youngest will be graduating this next year, empty nest syndrome once again...

The Grandbaby is growing and learning; she makes life exciting, it is interesting seeing it through her eyes. She loves everything and everyone and enjoys everyday until the fullest, we elders need to take stock of that attitude.

Spring doesn't seem to be close....too much snow and cold...brrr!

Well March came in like a lion it will probably go out like one as well, pretty much Alberta weather as far as I am concerned.  Oh well, hubby had his 45th birthday on Saturday, it was nice and quiet.  Emma had a blast telling Papa it was her birthday and spitting on his cake trying to blow out the candles.  What do you expect from a 2 year old, she tried her best but it was so funny!!

Zoo Travels...

Our family travelled down south this weekend to visit Calgary Zoo and the GuZoo in Three Hills, we took the grandbaby and she had an awesome time.  The Weatherman called for rain the entire weekend however it was cool in the morning on Saturday which turned to sun in the afternoon and Sunday turned out to be a bit gray and cold, the end of August is not the time for mitts and toques but we wanted to enjoy the day.

Saturday we ventured out to the Calgary Zoo, we had taken our kids there a number of years ago, it was interesting but not as cool as I remember it, the weather turned out to be nice.  I think our crew had more fun at the Bass Pro Shop than anywhere else, I think I know where I am doing some Christmas shopping, it was amazing, loved the antiques.  Emma enjoyed the stuffed animals and all of the displays. 

Unfortunately we ran out of battery power for the camera along our trip that day and Emma enjoyed riding in the wagon so much she fell asleep for the remainder of our time at the Calgary Zoo.  She didn't sleep through the Pro Shop though, she liked talking to some of the stuffed animals and looking at the trout in the elevator.  "Come here fishy" like they can here her and understand.  LOL.

Every time I asked her if she liked the zoo she said "yes" loudly.  She thorougly enjoyed the GuZoo as she could mingle and touch and hold a number of animals but she was especially fond of the kittens. 

Mr. Gustovson really wanted her to take a "kitty" home but we declined. 

Duane enjoyed his time there as well, he loved feeding the camel; however in the beginning it looked like he was going to get spit on so he kept some distance but after feeding the camel a bagel I think he won him over as he followed Duane as much as his fence would allow.  It was quite entertaining.

Jesse and Emma enjoyed a visit from a feathered friend however Emma did not like it too much when she offered to have the bird sit on her arm.  The bird does what they call a check with its beak to ensure that the support is stable enough, Emma did not like the birds beak on her arm and it scared her, though Papa Duane didn't want the bird on his arm either and backed away fairly quickly. 

Stephanie tried her hand at being a pirate but made sure that she zipped up first, Mr. Gustavson told us that this bird likes women and shiny things...lol...the bird kept trying to see Stephanie's face as she stayed very still and would not look at him... Jesse told her that the bird senses fear so she freaked out a little.  The GuZoo had a couple other birds, one that enjoyed saying "Hello". 

Emma cried for a short time after the bird incident however the goats and the pigs made her forget her worries about the bird.  She enjoyed giving the goats "toast" but didn't like it when they tasted her shoes.  She kept telling them to "go home goats, go home" and hugging them. 

According to the information on this Siberian tigers cage he was given to the GuZoo for rehabilitation from a zoo in B.C and was emaciated when he was brought in, didn't look too starved to me now but I guess he is still under a vet's care.  There is one more Tiger to be brought to the zoo however the note indicated that it had to stay back as it was too weak to travel, how sad, I hope it gets better. 

Can't remember what they were looking at...loved the expression on Girlie.

Emma telling her Daddy that the bear needed more "toast".  We went through about 10 bags of bread and buns feeding the animals that day.  I told Duane that we need to bring Emma back here in the spring where she can help with bottle feeding some of the babies. 

Both kids will be off to school this week and the summer is coming to a close, I return to work next week after being off for the month of August.  Need to get some things done around the house and some meals made so that I don't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  I am hoping that we get an Indian Summer so that it is nice to be out in the evening.  We have had a lot of rain this month, sometimes just enough to dampen the spirits.  But alas, we shall move forward, Steph is entering grade 11, one more year and she will graduate, I know it will come fast.  Jesse starts today at the community college in the carpentry program, I am nervous and excited for both of them.  I am also thinking of looking at some distance education so will have to take a peak at what is out there, something totally different than what I am doing right now, maybe an entrepreneurial venture...we shall see. 

Stalled for Now

Well have not been in my craft room since last I wrote...had visitors which took up a majority of time but it was fun.  I like to watch my neice's and nephew be creative.  Emma-Anne joined in on the fun, she painted pictures for her Daddy, lots of them of course a majority of them had only pink paint on them, when he came home from work he was asking her about them and all she could say is "that's for you Daddy". What a gem!

This week will be busy, I need to catch up where I left off and hopefully get some headway with my cleaning and organizing.  Hopefully the weather will be better since we have had so much rain. 

A Hoarder's Dream

I took some pic's of my craft room, with work it seems like it has turned back into a junk area...since I am on holidays I will endeavour to set these two rooms straight...lol

I purchased these cupboards about two years ago and they sat in our garage for quite some time before Duane was able to install them in our basement which we have been slowly trying to finish and now it is done except for my two rooms.  My hubby created me two work areas, the first being a room on its own for storage which I won't add here as it is too embarrassing and this area which also houses a stove and a sink...soon to be added; the sink area was here prior but we needed to complete the ceiling and doors.  During that time I found these cupboards and they have been sitting, waiting to be installed.  Thanks to two great friends who supplied me with a beautiful faucet to go with the sink once it is installed.

The cupboards were a "pink" color but was told they were a light oak which I couldn't see but I painted them with a "Canadiana" colored paint from the local Home Hardware and they turned out beautifully, my carpenter added a few pieces here and there so that they will fit into the space.  On the countertop I had started putting pictures into frames in April and here we are in August and they are not on the wall.  At least I have made progress, the frames were purchased at least 5 to 6 years ago...

In the future I hope to paint the stand the same color as the cupboards. 

At this point I have too much "stuff" and need to downsize.  "Junk" as my husband would call it however he does have his own "junk" it is just hidden much better than mine...lol

I have painted some shelving to go on the walls and have been working on a window frame that will go on the wall behind the island in the middle of the space, I want it to showcase my Dad's pictures and the rest of my family.  The paint has been dry on the window frame since April; the frame came out of an old house somewhere in the area many moons ago.  I painted it black and left the glass intact where it was still in good shape.  I plan to use my Cricut to do some lettering as well, I will try to post that as soon as it is done.  Maybe this blog will give me the incentive to get it done.