tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90160756052094892742024-03-05T20:37:43.856-08:00Wild West DiariesThe road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone. And I must follow, if I can. Pursuing it with eager feet. Until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.
J.R.R TolkienUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-1101068443261559322017-04-15T21:04:00.000-07:002017-04-15T21:04:13.883-07:00Oma's Walker Goes On VacationHello Dahlings!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the strand</td></tr>
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Mijn name ies Wahkeer... Roed Wahkeer... en I haad verry goed thyme whithd de familie. I doo dings dat I not get to doo whithd Oma. It whas verry excitant and avonturous. Lat mijn tell jouw about het....<br />
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Beeter yet... laat me show jouw de film...<br />
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Thanks you Dahlings! Ik hope you like het. Maybe I go on adventour again soon?<br />
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Thanks to:<br />
- <a href="https://www.oldcountrymarket.com/wabisabisurfshop.php" target="_blank">Wabisabi </a>for letting me check out the surf board, <a href="https://www.oldcountrymarket.com/freshproduce.php" target="_blank">the produce market</a> for the apple shot, and <a href="https://www.oldcountrymarket.com/index.php" target="_blank">the goats</a> for letting me hang out with them<br />
- Oma for letting me stay an extra day<br />
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Ik hou van jouw!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-61434603174622322122017-04-15T18:36:00.003-07:002017-04-15T18:52:44.795-07:00The Whole Family on Vacation at Beach Acres Resort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Family?...the whole family?...Mom?... Dad?... My Sisters?... Their kids?... On vacation with us?"<br />
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"<i>Are you nuts</i>?" </div>
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Was this the beginning of aging? Senility? It didn't make sense. My husband wanted to go on vacation with my family, the whole family.<br />
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"It's my birthday. This is what I want."<br />
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So off to <a href="https://www.parksville.ca/" target="_blank">Parksville</a> we tootled in the early morning hours, wagon train style, to <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/rathtrevor/" target="_blank">Rathtrevor Provincial Park</a>.<br />
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It was another amazing adventure filled with coffee, chaos, compassion, crazy, fire roasted marshmallows, love, laughter, sand, sea shells, and yes... even rainbows!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rathtrevor Beach</td></tr>
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The idea of sleeping on the ground... in a tent... in the rain... did not sound appealing. We called <a href="http://beachacresresort.com/" target="_blank">Beach Acres Resort</a> and booked 2 cabins instead. It was wonderful! <a href="http://beachacresresort.com/site/accommodations/beachlevel-townhouse.html" target="_blank">The 2 bedroom cabins </a>had nautical themes, were very clean and well equipped. We did not want for anything. We were even able to roast a small turkey in the oven. To be truthful, I could live there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our bed</td></tr>
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One morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise... the next we saw seals and porpoises as we drank coffee in bed, thanks to my sister.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the feet in the corner by the curtains?</td></tr>
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It was fantastic. We were spoiled!</div>
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And we had the cutest company joining us on vacation too. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poopa? Nay?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Is this where we are going to buy our new home Mama?"</td></tr>
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Ella brought her friend Bear.</div>
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Sometimes bear needed some quiet time.</div>
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<a href="http://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/things-to-do-rathtrevor-beach-provincial-park" target="_blank">Rathtrevor Park </a>was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from <a href="http://beachacresresort.com/" target="_blank">Beach Acres </a>and rain or shine we walked a lot.</div>
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We enjoyed coffee on the balcony, in the sunshine, which was rare and fleeting!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabrina and her baby</td></tr>
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and...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natascha and her baby</td></tr>
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A great time had by all... we even got Oma out on the beach in a thunderstorm...</div>
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Sometimes, getting out with the whole family seems a little daunting. Sometimes, there are differences that irritate and personalities that clash. We need to remember that life is precious, and short, and we are blessed with each other for only a short while, so enjoy it!</div>
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Ella wasn't the only one who brought a friend...Oma brought Walker. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbBvKt91Q50sBPWdWUWmIz0iBUiIDMiUMMaNOYrG5QKQL4sshs_SNkvB5aryRkHl-YyXl0nWVZ9dx6CaS8LwVhMgFW1QqwmgiUjySNNpwM9Tl3eiDMq_bZPXvaYypn45W30J05GFT4yqy/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbBvKt91Q50sBPWdWUWmIz0iBUiIDMiUMMaNOYrG5QKQL4sshs_SNkvB5aryRkHl-YyXl0nWVZ9dx6CaS8LwVhMgFW1QqwmgiUjySNNpwM9Tl3eiDMq_bZPXvaYypn45W30J05GFT4yqy/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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However, she had to leave a day early and allowed Walker to stay the extra day with us. Walker wanted to go everywhere! It was hard to keep up... anyways...that's a story for another time. </div>
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Here's a snapshot of the next blog, "Oma's Walker Goes on Vacation:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY69DLWJTBA7Nx8jftBAXsPESm4qnRCJeeO_ZAOJbsE3zBrcpka52dpJpiTTLhqRJveg5GXz9PvR1E8f5BCjbu0xD4KOvbMnquJLXv9f_E3BN8Z20tyaAp7PUCGWj1ywGy5LwRH1kxZd0C/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY69DLWJTBA7Nx8jftBAXsPESm4qnRCJeeO_ZAOJbsE3zBrcpka52dpJpiTTLhqRJveg5GXz9PvR1E8f5BCjbu0xD4KOvbMnquJLXv9f_E3BN8Z20tyaAp7PUCGWj1ywGy5LwRH1kxZd0C/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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...coming soon! </div>
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Here's a little slide show of the fun we had:</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aowYaQ_iO9Q/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aowYaQ_iO9Q?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks too...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- My Husband for wanting us all to get together like this</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- My Family for wanting to come</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="http://beachacresresort.com/" target="_blank">Beach Acres Resort </a>for the room with a view</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- Sabrina for coffee in bed</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- God for the rainbow</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-16601468522038431482015-01-29T10:29:00.004-08:002015-01-29T10:29:46.969-08:00Powell River and Lund B.C... a Family Trip<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i> </i>Our Trip to Powell River January 23rd to the 25th 2015</b></div>
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It's not often I get the whole family involved in the story telling of our trips. Grab a cup of coffee or a tea if you prefer, and enjoy this tale of adventure from the Wild West!</div>
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Thursday night... </div>
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<b><i>Rene's Ramblings:</i> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YEEz9P1XrjCnPE0DucFgjnVZGLG-maT__2W-nCWrk9Fdv9NzmzL218HEK1rsS-mzsS7jcg-yRg2Aiin0Djw2eXjxfr4kE5vROs6VyFLiX055jsYGJ8L0FMUu0TEhfnh295vgMtQbYH2D/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YEEz9P1XrjCnPE0DucFgjnVZGLG-maT__2W-nCWrk9Fdv9NzmzL218HEK1rsS-mzsS7jcg-yRg2Aiin0Djw2eXjxfr4kE5vROs6VyFLiX055jsYGJ8L0FMUu0TEhfnh295vgMtQbYH2D/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a dark and stormy night. My only plans were to not make plans. Smeg' covered the windshield and it obscured my vision like a good bottle of sherry. I had a car full of dames and was lookin' for a place to dump em'.</div>
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My choice of flop created a chorus of fear and panic with visions of <a href="http://www.aetv.com/bates-motel" target="_blank">Bates Motel</a> dancing in their heads. I had to move on. They wanted 5 stars, but I only had 2 stars worth of coin. I mosey'd into the <a href="http://driftwoodmotorinn.com/" target="_blank">Driftwood Inn</a> look'n to score a deal. Ten bucks off was all I could get. </div>
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I huffed the princess's bags up the stairs like a two penny slave. I was tired and wet, and looking for grub, but the princess's wouldn't serve. My mind was thinking of foreign shores and fine exotic foods but only chicken salad sandwiches were on the menu that night. </div>
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I was look'n for comfort, but the company was thick and I had to keep it P.G. I moved to relax my body on the motel bed and was quickly reminded of my 2 star wallet. It would have to do. I needed distraction from the discomfort and picked up my dime novel. To my surprise the pages supplied me with the distraction I sought. I looked around my humble kingdom, that first night, and was well pleased to see my princess's engaged in a similar endeavor.</div>
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<i>Rene has a thing... a fetish really for clean windows on the car. "Smeg" he called it, and I thought he was making up a word for the dirty smudge that the mist outside left on our windshield. You know that fine mist? Where there's just not enough water to clear off the dirt and it smears across the windshield and you have to use up all your windshield washer fluid? Well, when I got home I had to look it up. For those of you who are as curious as I am, Smeg is actually a real word. It's 1930's slang for smear.</i> <i>Go figure? I don't know where he pulls these bits of trivia from. He has a pretty amazing memory . He's not just a pretty face after all!</i></div>
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Friday...</div>
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<i><b>Alora's Twitter (written by Kalina because Alora would rather tell the story through pictures)</b></i>:</div>
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I love my sister soooooooo much, she is the bestest!!!!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fY5BOMnuUrVor9FUUfM_FYZRiQZIFFbN-hiDHfHoAT1Cz1D7Aooo4g1ut_3lVNYTH5fy9xSEwWhsRoCg2PUgEhNEj7GLXmxLOreJ0GsvIj_mHtJdoAT9rA9qYK4KKPkYHsMe2AlaLUhyphenhyphen/s1600/DSCF2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fY5BOMnuUrVor9FUUfM_FYZRiQZIFFbN-hiDHfHoAT1Cz1D7Aooo4g1ut_3lVNYTH5fy9xSEwWhsRoCg2PUgEhNEj7GLXmxLOreJ0GsvIj_mHtJdoAT9rA9qYK4KKPkYHsMe2AlaLUhyphenhyphen/s1600/DSCF2050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Cheese is the cow in the middle</td></tr>
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<i><b>Kalina's Views</b></i>:</div>
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Mr. Cheese is the best pillow ever!</div>
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<b><i>Anuschka's Babbling:</i></b></div>
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At <a href="http://lovethebakery.com/" target="_blank">"The Bakery"</a> around 10am... </div>
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"Just holler when you're ready to order." the bakery clerk behind the counter said as Rene and I took our time looking over the delicious baked goods before us. There were a lot to choose from and they all looked good.</div>
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"How loud should I holler?" Rene asked me. He had a gleam in his eye and I had the feeling he was in a mood to cause a little trouble. Visions of him bellowing so loud that it would stop all conversation in that bakery with all eyes turning in our direction. The locals would shake their heads at us and whisper, "Main Landers!" Luckily the clerk came back before we were ready to holler.</div>
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Two medium roast coffee's, two tea's, two croissants, and two scones, and we were $18 and some change lighter. I know Timmy's would have been cheaper, but the ambiance and the good conversation with great company was worth it. </div>
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Our conversation moved from Guinea Fowl to pick-up trucks, and swimming pools in your bedroom to camping, it was wonderful. A great way to start the battery re-charge, for each of us.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_L4-U05jgt4aZ_eAKXlOg1kpLpqAYIkwlGQwyEEyg61yqbxXbOKae_c4aZ16UOYEYH-4cB6fksU2M7vtXRlLiMyBLyNLjvclO6vjaJ5QQE4cfaISVs_5-YfiAi1w-bMxpVpuo2vJExwxO/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_L4-U05jgt4aZ_eAKXlOg1kpLpqAYIkwlGQwyEEyg61yqbxXbOKae_c4aZ16UOYEYH-4cB6fksU2M7vtXRlLiMyBLyNLjvclO6vjaJ5QQE4cfaISVs_5-YfiAi1w-bMxpVpuo2vJExwxO/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay</td></tr>
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It was a wet and windy ferry ride from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay. We caught the 12:30pm and arrived at our friends home in Powell River around 2ish. Then the sun peeked through the clouds and the rain disappeared. We lucked out and had wonderful weather for the rest of the weekend. I guess it really is sunnier on the Sunshine Coast.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheg7wQ3kK_Wz41MtB485p3gOlbcCctVPmSDnMqP4o6nY15oigtOHn8svgF9l1Dno9z_ZEzoJJjxXm35DWylcwXIuXfYHQcLRKhX0DsIlKX4moaKYZIWvxJhkHe6BFW1u6VjXSZT7NfW6j/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheg7wQ3kK_Wz41MtB485p3gOlbcCctVPmSDnMqP4o6nY15oigtOHn8svgF9l1Dno9z_ZEzoJJjxXm35DWylcwXIuXfYHQcLRKhX0DsIlKX4moaKYZIWvxJhkHe6BFW1u6VjXSZT7NfW6j/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" height="320" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe's Garage</td></tr>
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Joe was working in his garage and Nadyne was preparing a grand feast upstairs in the kitchen. Joe's old VW Bug looked like it was peeking around the corner of the garage, waiting for a chance to sneak out and go on an adventure, as we pulled up to the house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaN4GV1kvDs5m9bPHiK64h7slmVguVnJPjhSDyVzZov8oQ2k6jrVGJqaoxqWEb0jKB9bvivS0Lnh8hLAZRZis8ngpL6WwyI1dbjLlJGM4ylffJm_zTQPhbS5X-rrq0pNOSfRAhxgEekew/s1600/coquille+st+jacques.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaN4GV1kvDs5m9bPHiK64h7slmVguVnJPjhSDyVzZov8oQ2k6jrVGJqaoxqWEb0jKB9bvivS0Lnh8hLAZRZis8ngpL6WwyI1dbjLlJGM4ylffJm_zTQPhbS5X-rrq0pNOSfRAhxgEekew/s1600/coquille+st+jacques.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The feast included Coquille St. Jacques and Amore Salad with french dressing.<br />
Joe was on mashed potato duty that evening and he and Rene improvised a .25 cent version of a $10 icing bag with tip, so the outer edges of the Coquille could be decorated with the fancy smashed spud.<br />
Well, the make shift bag and tip were too small for the mashed potato to pass through, and the zip-lock bag burst while mashed potato oozed out the side. Luckily, Rene saved the day with an artful application through the ruptured fissure in the bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIqotwcwx8YZdWJEeN45uAYZK9qDdoNGY7sq-ROr2a1Uv6URNsWzm-OjSdXGEJ79SBi7bVr8ER8SqMNAXzQ9CyRXsfKHaqtn0UDKIZNo5sde2uGZZZcT7f9CxZvgAePQLsnWB1ODaCh_z/s1600/tart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIqotwcwx8YZdWJEeN45uAYZK9qDdoNGY7sq-ROr2a1Uv6URNsWzm-OjSdXGEJ79SBi7bVr8ER8SqMNAXzQ9CyRXsfKHaqtn0UDKIZNo5sde2uGZZZcT7f9CxZvgAePQLsnWB1ODaCh_z/s1600/tart.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tartin Apple Tarte with homemade vanilla bean ice cream was on the menu for dessert. The smell of the sweet apples cooking with the homemade crust was divine, and we were spoiled.<br />
We were all mesmerized by the ice cream maker sitting around it like a campfire poking, prodding, and stirring it; watching the cream, sugar, and vanilla turn into a frozen slurry. After only 10 minutes of stirring, and with Joe's approval to eat, we found ourselves entertained by the machines simple action and continued to stir and talk for another half hour. </div>
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It was so nice to see our friends again, we talked all afternoon and late into the evening. The kitchen was filled with amazing aromas and good conversation with tales of Yukon endeavors. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBatHRQPiantizmOxB71bkJegqT_byHDwj9kPbC-HIyn7WHeMPibGezIBDYk-Itmc5S6ORjprQSOp8u-pqKeawAE9OdfO93JxWYLm3130ABxhIvWfIRECPmX68yLCE5Ar02CA27LzzA98/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBatHRQPiantizmOxB71bkJegqT_byHDwj9kPbC-HIyn7WHeMPibGezIBDYk-Itmc5S6ORjprQSOp8u-pqKeawAE9OdfO93JxWYLm3130ABxhIvWfIRECPmX68yLCE5Ar02CA27LzzA98/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie</td></tr>
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Saturday...</div>
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<i><b>Kalina's Views:</b></i></div>
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Eddie, River and Licorice are cute!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTThMBV0o1wgV16HVIjOS7nTRkXA-ag1iTwDpK_YxDoCCyM8T_XrNWjHuTU58cmf1K3Eeyx1JZyRcn_jnaeKk-XPMTDrUd4cnkJ_eX8je_WUJNOwMlnO2eIUXFtd-E84ROgG-uLp3qhsYM/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTThMBV0o1wgV16HVIjOS7nTRkXA-ag1iTwDpK_YxDoCCyM8T_XrNWjHuTU58cmf1K3Eeyx1JZyRcn_jnaeKk-XPMTDrUd4cnkJ_eX8je_WUJNOwMlnO2eIUXFtd-E84ROgG-uLp3qhsYM/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Licorice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzSrsN1zCElr_e8rKACUEXp6WWC_1OVDoXrsiQLZ91A9qCxcCpqITQ-N7qFHLTRAr7FiLBY88WbU84D77Pvlc8wxWycVKTwwfDDKOhLAm5m9B-vJpsaWD_nnQcdbzny6QLqeTrZ6sv_0x/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzSrsN1zCElr_e8rKACUEXp6WWC_1OVDoXrsiQLZ91A9qCxcCpqITQ-N7qFHLTRAr7FiLBY88WbU84D77Pvlc8wxWycVKTwwfDDKOhLAm5m9B-vJpsaWD_nnQcdbzny6QLqeTrZ6sv_0x/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0nQJdmOryN31d1eewYhgh8-YPhav4Pmt84eNeZsUmPUuwU8DMq0wdHMGw0AaERhBCkBxDn0ZY0LV9_MeuH0pRJPQJi-USrke3QTGGjIKIaNO-9Gtg3o3HJpvT2EKqSEyWvc31c1_vdTa/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0nQJdmOryN31d1eewYhgh8-YPhav4Pmt84eNeZsUmPUuwU8DMq0wdHMGw0AaERhBCkBxDn0ZY0LV9_MeuH0pRJPQJi-USrke3QTGGjIKIaNO-9Gtg3o3HJpvT2EKqSEyWvc31c1_vdTa/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and River taking a nap</td></tr>
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<i><b>Alora's Twitter (written by Alora):</b></i></div>
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Dinner and breakfast were amazing. The dogs are super cute! It's nice seeing Nadyne again. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Marina in Lund B.C</b></i></td></tr>
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<b>Anuschka's Babbling:</b><i><b> </b></i><br />
We drove to <a href="http://www.lundcommunity.ca/index.html" target="_blank">Lund</a> and walked around town together.<i><b> </b></i>The board walk by the new community building, where Nancy's Bakery moved to, was a little slippery. This was our 3rd trip to Lund and Nancy's was right by the wharf the last time we were here. I'm glad to see it was still up and running and moved to a bigger place.</div>
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Above Nancy's bakery was a shop producing beautiful woolen sweaters, poncho's, and tuque's that was called the <a href="http://www.pollensweaters.com/" target="_blank">Pollen Sweater shop</a>. These sweaters will do for Lund what the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowichan_knitting" target="_blank">Cowichan sweater</a> has done for Vancouver Island.<br />
We then stopped in at <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://eatingoutinpowellriver.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/nancys-bakery-in-lund/" target="_blank">Nancy's Bakery</a> </span>and bought some Asiago onion bread and a beautiful looking Foccacia bread for our lunch that was hard not to rip into it. </div>
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Lund gets better and better with time, and there are still some residual old buildings left standing of days long ago. I can
just imagine one of those dilapidated buildings turning into a smoky 1930's blues
cabaret and bar. </div>
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At the <a href="http://www.lundhotel.com/site/things_to_do/tug_ghum_gallery.html" target="_blank">Tug-Guhm Gallery</a>, just below the <a href="http://www.lundhotel.com/" target="_blank">Old Lund Heritage Hotel</a>, local artist Debra was busy making a beautiful statue of a whale's tail. The gallery was filled with lovely statues, wood carvings, paintings, bowls, and jewelry by local artists. I purchased a uniquely styled glass starfish from a <a href="http://theglassfoundry.com/" target="_blank">Salt Spring Island artist</a> who uses only recycled materials. <br />
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While I was dazzled by the art work inside the shop, Alora was enchanted by the art of nature happening outside, as humming birds flitted back and forth at one of the gallery's feeders.<br />
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We drove to Okeover and walked around the beach at the <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/okeover/" target="_blank">provincial park</a>, the beach was rocky and difficult to walk on, but it was worth the effort for it was filled with fruits of the sea. Oyster's were plentyful! As I found out later, while passing a sign half way between Lund and Okeover, it is B.C's oyster capital.<br />
We didn't stay there for lunch. Nadyne knew of a spot that would be better, and less populated (there were already 3 families there with dogs running loose).<br />
We continued south down hwy 101, the longest hwy in the world, and a few minutes outside of Lund(down a F.S.R road), was the perfect spot. Dinner Rock was quieter(we were the only ones there), and no one came around to collect money for our camp spot, but I suspect they do in the summer months. </div>
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We built a campfire at one of the rec. sites on a cliff face overlooking the the Inlet. The girls took the camera and went off exploring down the beach while the adults stayed behind by the fire and roasted campfire panini's with smoked Brie and Tabasco oysters. They were delicious!</div>
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We left Dinner Rock at dusk and were back in Powell River a 1/2 hour later. Beautiful drive along the coast but there were some crazy corners, especially the last two before the bridge into Powell River. When it says 20KM or 30KM on the sign, they really mean 20KM or 30KM! Don't want to think about the consequences!</div>
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Sunday...</div>
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Lazy morning in our P.J's with an amazing brunch made by Nadyne, homemade croissants(some with chocolate), scrambled eggs, kale/apple smoothie, homemade chocolate muffins, and fruit salad. We didn't want to leave, but we had to eventually, so we could catch the two ferries to get home.<br />
It was difficult to say goodbye to our hosts, we would miss their company, and the great conversations we had with them.<br />
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Alora
has motion sickness like her Dad and she was trying to keep nausea
away. I see Rene and her fighting over the stirring wheel when she
finally gets her "N".<br />
It was a long journey but the time passed easily, we had a great book we listened to on CD called, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_who_Broke_into_Auschwitz" target="_blank">"The man who broke into Auschwitz"</a>. An engaging book about the horrors of mankind and the resilience of men, the good and the bad.<br />
We left Powell River around 1:30pm and drove into our carport at home around 8pm.<br />
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For those traveling with B.C Ferries, it is cheaper if you buy a prepaid(the minimum to put on is $115.00), <a href="http://www.bcferries.com/experience_and_coast_card/what_it_is/" target="_blank">"Experience" card</a>; it saved us approximately $25 dollars each way.<br />
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<i>"I'm hungry." said a tired husband to his wife at 8:15pm after a long journey on the road.</i><br />
<i>"What do you want to eat." his wife was cleaning out the cooler and had already pulled something simple to make off the shelves.</i><br />
<i>"Food." he said and walked away bringing up the overnight bags to the appropriate bedrooms.</i><br />
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10 minutes later...<br />
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<i>"Nadyne cooks better than you." Rene spooned another bite of Kraft Mac 'n' cheese into his mouth as his wife shrugged and rolled her eyes at him.</i><br />
<i>"My next day off I'll make you something special honey." she huffed and walked away, a little irritated that her family had been way too spoiled up there in Powell River.</i><br />
<i>"Next thing you know." she thought to herself, "they'll be wanting
gourmet food every day! I suppose I can't stop them from dreaming."</i><br />
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<i>"Hold fast your dreams! </i></div>
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<i>Within your heart</i></div>
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<i>Keep one still , secret spot</i></div>
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<i>Where dreams may go</i></div>
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<i>And, sheltered so,</i></div>
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<i>May thrive and grow."</i></div>
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<i>Louise Driscoll</i></div>
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Alora's Pic's in slideshow:<i> </i><br />
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<b>Dog's Blog:</b><br />
I did not go. It was my choice. Nadyne and Joe did invite me, but I did not feel so comfortable to go, because they have 3 dogs. I always thought Nadyne was a cat human. You know the kind I mean... the Pack Leaders who like cats more than dogs. But I think Pack Leader Joe brought her over to the "Dog Side". I know she loves me now. I just didn't know if Licorice and River would love me. They are sled dogs from the Yukon, you know, and I'm a city girl. They eat porcupines just for the fun of it! What if they heard that I was afraid of Yoda? My crazy pack cat. He bites my ankles! I do not care for sharp and pointy things. Licorice and River would have made fun of me, so I stayed with my cousin Maggie. She doesn't like sharp and point things either. We ate warmed up bones in bacon fat together and we ran together at the dog park. It is safe at Oma and Opa's. I love them, but I am glad my pack is back.<br />
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<b>Thanks to:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Nadyne and Joe for opening their home and spoiling us Main Lander's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Oma, Opa, Sabrina, Jeff, and Ella for taking such good care of Angel </span><b> </b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Krista, Andrew, Averi, and Ari for taking care of the cats, fish, and paper route </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-1083922522935284522014-12-16T21:25:00.002-08:002015-01-29T00:53:22.123-08:00Squamish River... Stuff the Sausage in There!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Peaceful and serene. This is what we desired...</div>
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After weeks of chaos and months without an adventure we were trembling with anticipation and looking to re-charge our batteries at the journey ahead. We wanted be on our best behavior before the last few days of Christmas. </div>
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Nerves were shot and truth be told... there was a small dark cloud of resentment forming over some of our heads as we backed out of our little carport in the city and headed North towards the fresh air and large open skies. </div>
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"Here's $20 bucks. The three of you go." We needed to make a stop at the grocery store for marshmallows and hot dogs, so I gave the girls money and told them to go together to pick out what kind of hot dog they wanted.</div>
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"I'm staying in the car."</div>
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"I'm not going!"</div>
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" I don't want to shop alone. I don't know what kind of hot dog to get." No one got out of the car. </div>
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"Give me back the money!" In a huff and a few heated exchanged words I got out of the car. "Teenagers!" I exhaled in a whisper as I stomped through the busy, brightly lite store, an irritated woman on a mission. I was so focused, that I didn't realize Kalina had followed me in until I reached the marshmallows. </div>
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"I just need some family time," said my youngest a few weeks back. "I want to go on an adventure." she added. The chaos of school and work was getting the best of each of us and an adventure was how our family relaxed. Nature brings out the peace in each of us, just in time for Christmas.</div>
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We headed somewhere close, because we didn't have time for an overnight adventure, just a day trip. Squamish was our destination. A campfire at the Squamish River. Oktoberfest sausages... Marshmallows... baguette... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camembert" target="_blank">Camembert cheese</a>... tomato soup... Aloe Vera juice... chocolate... what more could anyone need? Maybe a coffee?</div>
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We stopped at the Starbucks in Squamish first, before we headed to <a href="http://www.tourismsquamish.com/attractions/squamish-paradise-valley" target="_blank">Squamish Valley Road</a>, left off the 99, right by the <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/alice_lk/" target="_blank">Alice Lake Provincial Park</a> cut off by <a href="http://www.tourismsquamish.com/activities/eagle-viewing" target="_blank">Brackendale</a>. </div>
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The road had a big sign that said, "road washed out", but we saw another car go through so we followed it in. Just past the power station, the road did have a few centimeters of water on it, maybe 200feet wide, and then the road was fine again. We didn't venture too far in; a few kilometers, then we turned off on a logging road and headed towards the river.</div>
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It took a little while to shed off all the pent up irritations, but after some chopping, foraging and splashing, we were almost back to our normal selves again. </div>
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We even sang Christmas carols around the campfire. I'm pretty sure I even saw and heard Rene singing, although he would say I had imagined it.</div>
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What I didn't imagine, was that Chef Rene, whipped up a special french treat for us. Fire toasted baguette with melted Camembert cheese. Our family camps in style!</div>
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Served on a fire roasted log platter. Tres chic! And that was just the appetizer.</div>
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"Stuff the sausage in there!" This was our main course, Oktober Fest Sausages... that I picked out, and they were good. But, then again, isn't everything that's fire roasted good?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsNA5gAdpH5igI_QoStyzgs-0VtFF6mNR-t8RSvlkB-QAx2iiA3kRGrILstsH-8JdUJvI_37na1GyMFUm8ufAsuvGHk0kKE7Zt39CMPUpYb1h22wGjNnj0o8cQlcactzfHeU8wgyfo7bF/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsNA5gAdpH5igI_QoStyzgs-0VtFF6mNR-t8RSvlkB-QAx2iiA3kRGrILstsH-8JdUJvI_37na1GyMFUm8ufAsuvGHk0kKE7Zt39CMPUpYb1h22wGjNnj0o8cQlcactzfHeU8wgyfo7bF/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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I know that this "family" time will become more rare as time passes. They are teenagers after all and they will be too busy with friends, school and work over the next few years. They will have the choice, more and more, not to want to come on these little adventures with their Mommy and Daddy. I get that. </div>
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In the mean time, I will cherish this time with them, and focus on all the good things this day has brought; the laughter, the singing, the conversation, and the adventure that I was able to share with the ones that I love the most in life.</div>
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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and many adventures with your family this coming year!</div>
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Anuschka</div>
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<b>Dog's Blog:</b></div>
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I had much fun running around. I showed pack leader how he must jump over the small stream to get to the other side where the rest of the pack was, but he did not jump. He did not know how. He had to walk to a place where the small stream narrowed. Then he jumped, but not as well as I do. He is not so graceful, but I love him, and I will continue to show him how. </div>
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They made a bed for me by the fire and I was fed sausages. It was very good, much better than kibble! </div>
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I love adventures with my pack! <b> </b></div>
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Angel</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-49043797242222379142014-07-23T15:03:00.001-07:002014-07-23T15:03:43.335-07:00Pony Club and Rally 2014 at MREC <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDXnuKfqXEEeStReUov-HxVp2Z9t9i3fBPftjc-ogynDM1DfiSCDh9pY44wcPcDPdxfqWRKc1s81MlqCj2zFNKA4taofpC5M_mu5J1tC_Uell01S1Lxj2XTr7C7KxOG9VYChYfv5MW7DM/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDXnuKfqXEEeStReUov-HxVp2Z9t9i3fBPftjc-ogynDM1DfiSCDh9pY44wcPcDPdxfqWRKc1s81MlqCj2zFNKA4taofpC5M_mu5J1tC_Uell01S1Lxj2XTr7C7KxOG9VYChYfv5MW7DM/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" height="140" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Striker</td></tr>
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So, I'm having coffee, early in the morning, and I see out of my kitchen window this big truck and horse trailer pulling up to my little townhouse. A big burly cowboy type, bounds out of his truck, opens up the back of his trailer and guides this 16.3hh (hand high), thoroughbred out of the trailer. I quickly put on a sweater (I'm still in my Jammie's) and run outside to question, "What the heck are you doing? This isn't a barn!" He hands me the reins and says, "Delivery for Alora de la Court."</div>
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"WHAT!" My heart beats like a wild fire out of control, "You are very mistaken sir," panic rises and I feel dizzy as I try to give the reins back to him. He walks away and jumps up into the driver's seat of the metalic grey Ford pick-up and says to me, "My job is done here. He's your problem now Ma'am." Then Mr. Cowboy drives away leaving me standing in my little front yard with a very big horse who was chowing down on the little grass I had left under the cherry tree I have out front. </div>
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Apparently, Alora ordered him online from a horse farm in Alberta... "Strata will not like this." I remember thinking. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Striker</td></tr>
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Then I woke up. </div>
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The first thing I did when I woke up, was to thank God it was only a dream. I know Alora is a good girl and would never do anything like that to her mother (she is presently smirking beside me as she reads this). Perhaps, this dream was to prepare me for things to come?</div>
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Alora has loved horses since she was eight years old. She used to love dolphins, right up until I signed her up at <a href="http://www.evergreenstables.com/" target="_blank">Evergreen Stables</a> for a summer horse camp after being told by a fellow Mom that it would cure her of her fear of dogs. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eight year old Alora and Max</td></tr>
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Well, it did that and more, and I thank Pam and Jen at Evergreen for guiding and mentoring my daughter to becoming a more confident person around animals. I must admit I have wondered if I should have put her in dolphin camp. It might have been less expensive? Perhaps, I wouldn't be having nightmares of cowboys dropping off horses at my house? LOL!</div>
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As of 2010 she has been a member of the <a href="http://www.canadianponyclub.org/bclm/Alouette/" target="_blank">Alouette Pony Club</a> located at Forever Green Stables in Pitt Meadows and it's been a great experience for her. This past weekend was the first time the kids at Alouette went to a yearly Pony Club Rally at <a href="http://www.mrec.ca/" target="_blank">MREC</a>. A pretty amazing experience for all the kids involved. </div>
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They are designated into teams with a Captain, Riders, and Grooms, and they have to do everything from stable management, feeding, and care, to riding, jumping, and cooling down horses. Points were deducted if parents intervened and told them what they forgot or needed to do. So, it was quite relaxing for us parents back at camp. The only time we could talk to them was back at camp, and there couldn't be any horse related themes in our conversations. </div>
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Friday, they prepared for a dressage testing, and Saturday was for the cross country jumping...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the course before the event.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Striker</td></tr>
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Alora was riding a 19 year old thoroughbred called Strike the music (AKA - Striker - an old race horse), and after he finished the course he seemed like he wanted to go again (he did not look like he was a geriatric horse at all!). He and Alora were doing what they loved and they looked really good together.</div>
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...and Sunday was show jumping.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Striker </td></tr>
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The kids learned a lot last weekend, and I as a mom, was very impressed. The only trouble I had was when I was judging the cross country jumping, and I had to eliminate one of our kids and horse for refusing a jump more than 3 times. She wasn't allowed to finish the course, and I felt bad for her. I was going to look the other way and let her continue, but there were other judges yelling out that she had to leave the course. I guess they were watching, so I had to mark it down.</div>
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My suggestion would be to just let the kids finish, even if they are eliminated. They put so much effort, time and money into being there, only to be yanked off in mid-course. Mind you, this was my first year at Rally and maybe the rules are in place for a reason... I just don't know them yet.</div>
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Thank-you to Pam, at Forever Green Stables, for the use of your horses, and your leadership and guiding these kids so far in their journey with horses. And to Jen for your teaching and knowledge, and to Helen for your support and trailering the horses to these events, and to Melanie for encouraging these kids and supporting them... and the use of your tack. </div>
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Thank-you to Marta and the team at <a href="http://www.canadianponyclub.org/bclm/CampbellValley/" target="_blank">Campbell Valley Pony Club</a> for guiding Alora on her first Rally.</div>
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We as the parents really appreciate it. Love you guys!</div>
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Here's a few shots of the Alouette kids at Rally:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHs0g4hQLAhvcdZEDX6LltI7K-6401X-peqNYdBAJpaTXkPQPbiJaEQ66rJ2fXIz1_CVjLEdPbLjLG4TwYIvucd_hIT0_mpKRqmxUJzzlp1dH-QRijKlp7JJMLX1YU4wEN5IMCKPxmoQb/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHs0g4hQLAhvcdZEDX6LltI7K-6401X-peqNYdBAJpaTXkPQPbiJaEQ66rJ2fXIz1_CVjLEdPbLjLG4TwYIvucd_hIT0_mpKRqmxUJzzlp1dH-QRijKlp7JJMLX1YU4wEN5IMCKPxmoQb/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyla and Joe</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydrMvnwIvlM9hbwIvZ1Rh-MUrF-RmB-UDwGzKiqlJxU8sdp-nPxQXq734a1TFY7oEuhARkvshgIhx909wnWXqFBN9hsy1d3Zr85WD-GBm9Q3BIgF0bNxwhukdQ-sUoVIuFEuor8NYiDP-/s1600/IMG_1247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydrMvnwIvlM9hbwIvZ1Rh-MUrF-RmB-UDwGzKiqlJxU8sdp-nPxQXq734a1TFY7oEuhARkvshgIhx909wnWXqFBN9hsy1d3Zr85WD-GBm9Q3BIgF0bNxwhukdQ-sUoVIuFEuor8NYiDP-/s1600/IMG_1247.JPG" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura and Cindy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xvyfayFt5e-N0Ryb_eZ4JP6aGDpV8HO9O8HCyWzzkNBKUkGKyv9-4yAwwrko1CCcknRrhASp6mj2_6WPym8ZEjg8ud0u85gvNfu2vvfVWNjwGltrZoKgQwrWfWISMkWom41tDnaR9sYe/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xvyfayFt5e-N0Ryb_eZ4JP6aGDpV8HO9O8HCyWzzkNBKUkGKyv9-4yAwwrko1CCcknRrhASp6mj2_6WPym8ZEjg8ud0u85gvNfu2vvfVWNjwGltrZoKgQwrWfWISMkWom41tDnaR9sYe/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will and Bailey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcFQcm4z17fHUrn-HpsA1qhyphenhyphenb5lC5chvu92R6jKBraE3DCZ22V6jzQNKi3PZTxXO-fISes2jJF2V1koJ43C3seDe_L8zRAJHBJY4VMPVGw1IIrL7xyTIPG0K6qtEAOAxvggevVcJsWFhB/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcFQcm4z17fHUrn-HpsA1qhyphenhyphenb5lC5chvu92R6jKBraE3DCZ22V6jzQNKi3PZTxXO-fISes2jJF2V1koJ43C3seDe_L8zRAJHBJY4VMPVGw1IIrL7xyTIPG0K6qtEAOAxvggevVcJsWFhB/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew</td></tr>
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Thanks Again!</div>
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Anuschka</div>
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PS: There were about 500 photos taken over the weekend, so if you would like to see them all just give me a key and I will download them for you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-17054275574312305342014-07-06T16:59:00.000-07:002014-07-06T16:59:50.419-07:00Costa Rica and The Netherlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcXv8Q-gVP0eQa0nFZL25UIDTnzm0Zb8OQ6vzE-GCijtDtSmEHKxqtZ2l2oZhMsw5-tPhpkUpWfO__rEdqMajYwDqiIQax2NcF6EjhD1SdO7ABgzKDc8WoZy4dHm3M_OleGNrNt1kYqHG/s1600/holvcrc_2965236b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcXv8Q-gVP0eQa0nFZL25UIDTnzm0Zb8OQ6vzE-GCijtDtSmEHKxqtZ2l2oZhMsw5-tPhpkUpWfO__rEdqMajYwDqiIQax2NcF6EjhD1SdO7ABgzKDc8WoZy4dHm3M_OleGNrNt1kYqHG/s1600/holvcrc_2965236b.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>
So... What can I say really? It was a hard game to watch as my family will concur... I'm sure. But, what an adventure!<br />
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My daughter Kalina couldn't sit still to watch, she meandered in and out of the room uneasily. Opa, my dad, couldn't sit still and paced back and forth from the living room to the BBQ for most part of the second half. Oma, my mom, half way through went and changed her orange shirt for a blue one, then changed it back to orange just before the penalty kicks and the win (perhaps she foresaw something we did not?). As for me, I was very glad that I was in charge of the food and could move back and forth from the kitchen to the living room. Movement seems to be my family's way of dealing with chaotic and nervous situations and I'm okay with that.<br />
Our family only wanted to eat Dutch food while we watched the game, so I spent the night before making <a href="http://www.inmyredkitchen.com/tompouce-a-dutch-treat/" target="_blank">tompouse,</a> which is one of my favourite dutch desserts, and I also made <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/satay-sauce/" target="_blank">sate and pinda sauce</a>. Oma and Opa made <a href="http://www.thedutchtable.com/2010/10/bitterballen-dutch-deep-fried-gravy.html" target="_blank">bitterballen</a> and croquetes and Tante Bina and Uncle Jeff bought <a href="http://www.koekjesbakken.com/bokkepootjes.html" target="_blank">bokkepootjes</a>. We did eat well! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXEygQFW0okeCdaRI1l0ZgluKZ0LwCKOzJD014wuHKrkuZvmhoPrGfodNnwTY4zMnmqQDMlXDj4w6eN0P3TuG-FgnFHmc2wzfbc83HoZeHCV4Qrlqi8wOvUwPA5AWRNfaRMPDmI_SsrT/s1600/IMG_0989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXEygQFW0okeCdaRI1l0ZgluKZ0LwCKOzJD014wuHKrkuZvmhoPrGfodNnwTY4zMnmqQDMlXDj4w6eN0P3TuG-FgnFHmc2wzfbc83HoZeHCV4Qrlqi8wOvUwPA5AWRNfaRMPDmI_SsrT/s1600/IMG_0989.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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What I loved the most about this game, was that it got our family together. We ate together, we yelled together, we cried together and we paced back and forth together and that's what was so special about this game...<br />
<br />
Well... and Krul.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4xrcnPxSfylTQEcW0997C8diKjHFABk-Y9fD9ptgpDoqSeRUDQj8BBOVx3SOeB15hDirOMWXMYUMFkVqDes3HWbEEe93K8Eg2SBfkOMtgsQ49S0n6sRcAdJ2-zrZlylOZ2RrJq73T3Y/s1600/krul_2965780b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4xrcnPxSfylTQEcW0997C8diKjHFABk-Y9fD9ptgpDoqSeRUDQj8BBOVx3SOeB15hDirOMWXMYUMFkVqDes3HWbEEe93K8Eg2SBfkOMtgsQ49S0n6sRcAdJ2-zrZlylOZ2RrJq73T3Y/s1600/krul_2965780b.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>
Good luck with Argentina boys. I know you will do well. Besides... you have a cousin of ours on that team of yours, Kuyt is my great grandmother's maiden name. She married a de la Court. So we're practically family! You've got lots of support!<br />
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We wish you well!<br />
Love from B.C. Canada<br />
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<u><i><b>Angel's Blog (the dogs blog):</b></i></u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI51f4U-m0ZfkAdp8e163oAxkRb7idLD2zK4QXnKDF8O0PkhY2x_s4EGfzJekWW8Zn68YD1Rw-gCrjvbOQO4hzHgwUeBBrenGxYsA2VvVfc5WqSn_qXURtrhkia1lFs9jQS_Wa_g_a-Icu/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI51f4U-m0ZfkAdp8e163oAxkRb7idLD2zK4QXnKDF8O0PkhY2x_s4EGfzJekWW8Zn68YD1Rw-gCrjvbOQO4hzHgwUeBBrenGxYsA2VvVfc5WqSn_qXURtrhkia1lFs9jQS_Wa_g_a-Icu/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am making sure no one steals our shirts</td></tr>
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Hallo Family Pack!<br />
I was a little nervous yesterday. I know, I whine when I get nervous. My pack knows it, but they love me anyway. I just wanted to show you my shirt. It's a great shirt!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNHJV-sL6R6VjpBIHHW7nFlu0WEIc4_balG5W8pqOp0milCWuTFTGB2_IQMFNTX3amKIneo-sA0uiGyuLS6hrgdxu28WYw9Fe612wb1BjeFI_6RmPL1ufCVbh5pUDGRtnQ0zGG1urAm40/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNHJV-sL6R6VjpBIHHW7nFlu0WEIc4_balG5W8pqOp0milCWuTFTGB2_IQMFNTX3amKIneo-sA0uiGyuLS6hrgdxu28WYw9Fe612wb1BjeFI_6RmPL1ufCVbh5pUDGRtnQ0zGG1urAm40/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel's shirt</td></tr>
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Each of us got to chose what name to put on the back. <br />
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Ari chose Memphis, because he is her favourite player in Fifa... it was Ronaldo in the beginning, but she changed her mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggHdwhi3AtlszFpwHILsi5umTIm5E_FgiBdHtSdnlmaoM2AgilNjTYpPApwf4Kgjx_PEey9L8yjkkfYp0YAaLNniu5eYzGMpivCQxfXiQbpC2mV0bf1X426sYFDj2EOgFim_FD3DZNSwr/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggHdwhi3AtlszFpwHILsi5umTIm5E_FgiBdHtSdnlmaoM2AgilNjTYpPApwf4Kgjx_PEey9L8yjkkfYp0YAaLNniu5eYzGMpivCQxfXiQbpC2mV0bf1X426sYFDj2EOgFim_FD3DZNSwr/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Nina chose Van Persie because she likes flying dutchman. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPZT-uludlrbwOwY0wkboofRe5izOptcfkubWK-ikgUN9Ty1vf09-yfR9G-Tu_-lSTA4fwNdRY5dp-5rIdoKF7PpiYH-b2-RzZW1a206TboV4uVFdxY_Imyi35h3FBjb4jdlQuthWHzE3/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPZT-uludlrbwOwY0wkboofRe5izOptcfkubWK-ikgUN9Ty1vf09-yfR9G-Tu_-lSTA4fwNdRY5dp-5rIdoKF7PpiYH-b2-RzZW1a206TboV4uVFdxY_Imyi35h3FBjb4jdlQuthWHzE3/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alora chose Cillessen, I don't know why, maybe she thinks he's cute? She is a teenager now you know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKyfK82d_ihaBe0Ia1SlIMWKSw2AKej1eDkIfETc9dth_n5XKGE40kNs3J1EQ2wAjhBd8rr4Yla6wlG_bLqeKrbDuLlOqmM5GdwnLkMRvVDgSdRWHWP6IrOvpujDtVfIHNY4011Mp2RFk/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKyfK82d_ihaBe0Ia1SlIMWKSw2AKej1eDkIfETc9dth_n5XKGE40kNs3J1EQ2wAjhBd8rr4Yla6wlG_bLqeKrbDuLlOqmM5GdwnLkMRvVDgSdRWHWP6IrOvpujDtVfIHNY4011Mp2RFk/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I chose Robben, because I love him. He is like my pack leader dad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwueaUVlUO_Ieeagg4QZ2FPObVQk8SscvQU4Ao-MBRhfzJYr88jJ6cKl0DHJBRNH0SSqTN9t_6fnv7yIpbwSLb9ZXcu0UOzjnVrcVNiypW4kHxXSGzQXu600MWn7xs1saumtVJ_Nj1R6q/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwueaUVlUO_Ieeagg4QZ2FPObVQk8SscvQU4Ao-MBRhfzJYr88jJ6cKl0DHJBRNH0SSqTN9t_6fnv7yIpbwSLb9ZXcu0UOzjnVrcVNiypW4kHxXSGzQXu600MWn7xs1saumtVJ_Nj1R6q/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and pack leader dad t-shirts</td></tr>
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Robben and I are kindred spirits. He runs fast, just like me, and he loves to chase balls, just like me.<br />
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Except, I don't fall down... Maybe, it's because I have four legs and he only has two? I would love to talk to him about that.<br />
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Anyway, Robben, if you do read this before the next game, I just wanted to tell you that if you are feeling nervous about the next game, just give your pack a big group hug. I find that always makes me feel better...<br />
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that... and cowboy steak. Maybe we can share some one day?<br />
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Good Luck Holland Family Pack! I know you can do it!<br />
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Love from AngelUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-59529717931174948252014-06-05T14:08:00.001-07:002014-06-05T14:08:57.989-07:00Bowen Island B.C<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Retro Adventure - Going Back in Time (Not Too Far Back)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Av_pBSIdD1FB_wVulwg230ywCu56IRi75mF3OxCnsLzRrwCMKWh4PvUWYWivpMeZ8xT_idFSokycuIfy_wgkMlyB9Hzp7Gc4BNcS6cvSp3vrO6uvH5AGoUwj7_30N10_PKnA4_xKO3fR/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Av_pBSIdD1FB_wVulwg230ywCu56IRi75mF3OxCnsLzRrwCMKWh4PvUWYWivpMeZ8xT_idFSokycuIfy_wgkMlyB9Hzp7Gc4BNcS6cvSp3vrO6uvH5AGoUwj7_30N10_PKnA4_xKO3fR/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was April 18th, 2014 and the sun was shining after many months of rain. I remember it well, it was the day after Rene's Birthday and as a gift, he wanted to go on an adventure with his family. So, we drove down to <a href="http://vancouversnorthshore.com/what-to-do-outdoors/things-to-do-in-horseshoe-bay/" target="_blank">Horseshoe Bay</a> and parked the car, then walked onto the <a href="http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/biva-current.php" target="_blank">Bowen Island Ferry</a> and had an adventure.</div>
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We had to wait about an hour and a half for the ferry, so the girls took the camera and went on a tour of the bay while Rene went in search of a good cup of coffee as Angel and I stayed on the beach.</div>
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It was odd walking onto a ferry instead of driving on. It felt out of place somehow, because we usually drove on. We were with the dog and were not allowed in the lounge area on the upper deck. Usually Angel would have stayed in the car, but because we walked on we had to go where she was allowed. We stayed at the front of the ferry by the cars and the parked bikes.<br />
The girls went to the upper deck and took a few photos of the ferry ride. The photos they took reminded me of how blessed I am to live in B.C. We do live in such an amazing place!</div>
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Once on <a href="http://www.hellobc.com/bowen-island.aspx" target="_blank">Bowen Island</a> we decided we were famished and needed some food, so we stopped off at <a href="http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks_lscr/regionalparks/Pages/Crippen.aspx" target="_blank">Crippen Park</a> just a few steps from where the ferry docks in Snug Cove and had a picnic. After Lunch we headed towards <a href="http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/killarney-lake/" target="_blank">Killarney Lake</a> which was a beautiful easy 9km hiking trail that goes all the way around the lake.<br />
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They say it takes approximately 2 hours to do the loop around the lake, it took us a little longer (about double the time), but we sauntered, and we stopped to pull an old bike out of the water along the way.<br />
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The last time we came to Bowen Island, and did the <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1534455" target="_blank">Killarney Lake Loop</a>, was about 13 years ago when Kalina was about 6 months old. Crazy how time flies... especially as I get a day older. The older I get the faster time goes by. Am I the only one that feels that way?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalina and I at the ice cream shop in Snug Cove 13 years ago</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kalina in a hollowed out tree along the Killarney Lake loop now</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My three beautiful girls</td></tr>
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The day was an amazing one! Filled with peace, love and laughter... okay maybe a little whining too, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a little TLC (Triple, Latte, Coffee's). <br />
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Enjoy your time on Bowen... we did!<br />
Anuschka<br />
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<u><b>Angel's Thoughts:</b></u><br />
I had such a great time! Didn't like the loud thing that brought us across the water. It made me nervous. I don't like being nervous. It makes me shake.<br />
So many great smells along the walk. My pack moves way to slow for my liking, so it's a good thing I am patient. I run back and forth to make sure everyone stays in the pack. It is tiring work but very rewarding. I got salami from pack leader and left over sandwiches. I love my pack!<br />
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<u><b>Alora's Pic's:</b></u><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-39310854996644140682014-01-21T19:03:00.000-08:002014-01-21T19:03:01.354-08:00Harrison Hotsprings Resort in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"We're Gonna stay awake all night!" the 3 girls sang at the top of their lungs as they bum bounced and danced on the bed next to Rene and I.<br />
"Never Gonna Sleep!" were the only words I could recall of the song they sang. Rene was laying beside me with his eyes closed, "I am on my motorbike right now riding through a twisty, quiet, mountain pass." He smiled contently as the chaos of the noise surrounded us.<br />
"Whoo Hoo! We're never gonna sleep all night!" the girls sang the chorus again at top volume.<br />
"Do you think they're excited to be here?" My husband slowly opened his eyes, sighed and looked at me as if to say, "we won't have any alone time, will we?" He knew this weekend wasn't about romance, it was about the kids and fulfilling a birthday wish for our youngest. It was also, all about hanging out with family... getting to know each other again... extended family and all.<br />
"I just want to go on an adventure with my family," was Kalina's birthday wish, "just to have fun and maybe ski?" And then she chose <a href="http://www.harrisonhotsprings.ca/" target="_blank">Harrison Hot Springs.</a> We tried to book a deal at Travelocity and Expidia, etc... they wouldn't allow more that two adults and two small kids in a room. So, we called around and we found a good deal at <a href="http://www.harrisonresort.com/" target="_blank">Harrison Hot Springs Resort</a>. They allowed two adults and three teenagers in the room, with a cot, so we didn't have to get a 2nd room.<br />
We've been to this Resort before, a few times, and have always had an amazing time. Once in <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2010/01/clear-creek-hot-springs.html" target="_blank">2010 for Kalina's birthday</a> (do you see a trend?), and then in <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2009/10/wine-cheese-and-mud.html" target="_blank">2009 for Rene and my 19th wedding anniversary</a>. There were a few more times, which I haven't forgotten but just haven't gotten around to writing yet. <br />
"Whoo Hoo!" the three excited teens continued to sing and laugh.<br />
"The noise level seems to be getting louder." Rene looked at the door to the adjoining room which we had no access to and said, "I wonder if that's the door to Narnia?"<br />
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After a bite to eat we all went for a swim. The kids brought goggles and swam off, leaving Rene and I alone. Unfortunately, the pool was the busiest that I had ever seen it before, and we couldn't find a quiet nook. The last few times we had been to this resort it was mid-week and a lot quieter, this time it was the weekend. Lots of kids, lots of noise, in the indoor and outdoor pools. At 10pm, the kids are asked to leave, but the adult pool is open till 1am. So, if you are a couple looking for a romantic quiet time... go midweek.<br />
The resort has five pools, two indoors and three outdoors, one of which is an adult only pool (which was sometimes louder than the family pool... truthfully).<br />
After our swim, my husband and I went down to the <a href="http://www.harrisonresort.com/Islands-Bar.aspx" target="_blank">Island Bar</a> for an evening drink. They gave us a bowl of nuts, which were quite flavourful, while they went to make our drinks. Rene had a Glenfiddich whiskey on the rocks, and I had a Harvest Moon Martini. We finally had our moment of quiet and good conversation. It was wonderful.<br />
Lights out at 11pm that night and all electronic devices were put away (FYI girls - next vacation... they will be staying at home).<br />
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I was out of bed by 8:30am, the next morning, while the rest of the crew were still sawing logs. So, I sat outside and took in the peace and beauty of the morning and the surroundings. After a little while, I got dressed and went downstairs to <a href="http://www.harrisonresort.com/Miss-Margarets.aspx" target="_blank">Miss Margaret's cafe</a> and purchased a Starbucks coffee for Rene and I.<br />
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Breakfast was leftover buns and cold cuts, which we kept in the fridge, in the room. However, if you find yourself with no leftovers, <a href="http://www.harrisonresort.com/Lakeside-Cafe.aspx" target="_blank">T</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">he Lakeside Cafe</a> has a great breakfast buffet which we have enjoyed in the past.<br />
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Went for a swim after breakfast and I noticed a few adults with a Starbucks coffee in their hands. You are allowed paper or plastic cups for consuming liquids, but no glass anywhere near the pools. <br />
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"Just hold on to my hand or something." I told Rene. He wanted to hold me up so I could float.<br />
"You don't have to hold me up. I float, but I just don't want to float away." He had been leaning against me earlier, as I held him up to float. He was going to do the same for me, valiant man that he was, but I technically didn't need him to hold me up.<br />
"I have built in floatation devices." I just needed him to hold on to me so I didn't float off across the pool. He was a little jealous of my talent and was quite vocal over it. That's when Alora decided to join us in our quiet corner. <br />
"What are you guys talking about?" she questioned. <br />
"Your father is jealous of the way I can float without help and he can not."<br />
"I sink." he said irritated.<br />
"That's because of all your muscles dad." She said nonchalantly and this made Rene smile.<br />
"Hear that honey... I'm muscular."And he winked at me.<br />
We had a
wonderful conversation about Colleges and Universities with Alora in that quiet corner of the pool. It felt so good
to connect and talk with her, without rushing around. The business of life is so disconnecting. You know, between school, extra
curricular activities, and work there's no time to get to know each other. It
was really good to connect with the kids and Rene this past weekend, and it was good to relax.<br />
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We went for a walk into town that afternoon. Ari and Kalina went long boarding with the long boards they were given for Christmas. Alora was the photographer for the weekend.<br />
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We walked to the end of the beach, where the pier and boat launch were. The two goofball long boarders decided to ride down the pier on their long boards. My motherly instincts took hold and I began to chastise them. Rene grabbed my hand and led me away.<br />
"They need to have fun," he whispered, "and we can't be overprotective."<br />
"It's hard, Rene." I answered, "It's hard to suppress the motherly survival instincts." <br />
"I know, " he said, "I feel the fatherly ones." He gave me a hug then said, "Look, the worst thing that could happen is they fall into the water." We heard a scream at that moment and couldn't help but look back at the pier. "Besides, we are here to pull them out." then as a second thought, "They have dry clothes at the hotel. Let's let them have fun."<br />
It went against every instinct I had to turn away, but I did, because I knew that sometimes kids need to get a little wet to learn, to grow and I suppose... to have fun.<br />
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We ate lunch at a family restaurant called the Lakeside Cafe. It had an old diner feel to it, and it was just a few doors down from the Resort. They serve a great club sandwich and the fries are big and crispy. The girls had an old fashioned strawberry shake with the whipped cream on top. The meals were simple, tasty and in huge portions. We had lots of leftovers. <br />
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Back at the hotel the girls played a game together and Rene and I...well... we fell asleep. I was reading a magazine in bed and I closed my eyes for just a minute, because they were getting so heavy, and before I knew it an hour had passed. I woke up to my own snoring and kids laughing. After our snooze, Rene and I went for a swim as the girls went exploring around the hotel and surrounding area.<br />
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Later that evening, the girls went out to get sushi for dinner as Rene and I got ready for a dinner date at the <a href="http://blackforest-restaurant.com/" target="_blank">Black Forest Restaurant.</a> It was delicious! Great conversation and amazing food. If you like authentic German food, this is the place to go. We started off with a garlic, buttery escargot as an appetizer. Rene had the special that night which was schnitzel and lobster, and I had the schnitzel charlotte (shrimps and scallops). To end the wonderful evening, we shared a slice of the black forest cake for dessert.<br />
The kids and their bathing suits were missing when we got back. We figured they went down for a swim. We did get a little alone time after all...<br />
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I awoke early the next morning and just couldn't sleep in that hard bed anymore. Had I known earlier, the Resort will add padding on the mattress if you ask for it. I went down to the pools by myself around 7:45am. The indoor pools were open, but the outdoor ones open at 8am. For a few minutes I actually had the pool all to myself. It was a glorious moment. The sun rising, birds singing and just the quiet swish of the water as I slowly swam around the family outdoor pool. By 8:10am, the pool had 3 adults (including me) and10 kids playing Marco Polo in it. I briefly thought about moving to the adult pool, but I could hear loud laughter and smutty language coming from that direction and I felt the kids pool was much quieter.<br />
Then at 8:20am, my hero strode in complete with a coffee, the sweet elixir of the morning, and his good humour.<br />
We sadly checked out at 11:15am and packed the car, but our adventure wasn't just over just yet. With a picnic packed we headed towards <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/sasquatch/" target="_blank">Sasquatch Provincial Park</a> for a campfire and wiener roast. Oh, yah... we had some cowboy steak that we picked up at a local butcher called <a href="http://www.hopcottmeats.ca/" target="_blank">Hopcotts</a>. We cubed them and fire cooked them on our hotdog sticks. There is nothing tastier than steak cooked on an open fire.<br />
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Great Fun Had By All! </div>
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Now on to the next adventure!</div>
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<i><b>Angel's Lament</b></i></div>
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They did not take me. After our October trip to the <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2013/10/whistler-and-furrmont-club.html" target="_blank">Furmont in Whistler</a>, I thought they loved me and would take me everywhere with them. But, they did not. I went to great Opa and Oma pack leaders. Not that I am unappreciative of them, and what they did for me, but truth be told, I missed my pack and I was depressed. I am still depressed. I will not get out of bed. I think I will be depressed until they take me to the Furmont again. </div>
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Fini</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-2201948510719400852013-10-30T12:11:00.001-07:002013-10-30T12:11:28.375-07:00Whistler and the Furrmont Club<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea to Sky Highway</td></tr>
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"We're going shopping for my birthday?" I asked as we drove past Ikea. My husband smiled secretively and gave me a look that said, "You'll never know where I'm taking you."<br />
"We're going to snuggle, all together, on the beds there and eat hot dogs and cinnamon buns all weekend," Kalina chimed in as we drove past Ikea in a westerly direction.<br />
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A few weeks ago my adventurous family asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said, "Surprise me." That's just what they did. But, before I go too in depth with my story, Angel, is really excited to share hers first. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the Fairmont with Pack Leader</td></tr>
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I can not believe it! I was allowed to stay with my pack this trip. I did not go for a sleep over to great Opa and Oma pack leaders. Although, I have great respect for great Opa and Oma, I was glad to be with my home pack.<br />
This was the most luxury trip I have ever been on. I know it cost pack leader an extra $25.00 for me to stay at the 5 star hotel called the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, but I know pack leader thinks I'm worth it. I even got room service... Just for me! I was a part of the Furrmont Club and they brought me a fresh bed and clean bowls and a menu for my dinner. A doggy can get used to this pampering stuff. Did you know the Furrmont Chateau has a royal doggy service and all I had to do was dial "0" and they would bring me anything I needed? It's true!<br />
That chateau must be a doggy hotel for they did not give dinner menu's for the rest of my pack. I ordered, the Lamb and rice stew, but I do not think pack leader heard me, it was only $10.00. . Pack leader tried to feed me that kibble stuff. Blah! I could not eat it after I smelled the lamb stew.<br />
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I have to share with you the room service menu, you will be surprised! I get so excited for this food... My tail is wagging just thinking about it. <br />
Okay, for breakfast I could choose french toast, egg and gizzard pudding (I do not know what this gizzard is, but I am willing to try it), and egg and sausage with cheese. Then, for lunch or dinner, I could choose from rice and bean (Bean is not so good for my tummy. I regret after I eat the chili. I know I should not eat it, but I can't help myself it is so good!), Baked grits and cheese, lamb and rice stew, or Beef stew and rice. Yummy! My pack Mommy says I must stop drooling now, it's getting on the key board. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees by the Furrmont - nice smells there</td></tr>
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We went for a nice walk in the Whistler town, to see where we could have some dinner. Because food is very important and I know my pack loves to eat good food, like I do. Many wonderful smells there in that town! But, I did not smell anything as good as the lamb stew. When we got back, I tried to order it once more. Again, they did not hear me. I think sometimes that they are deaf. The pack leader's (my Dad and Mom) went out for dinner to a place called Milestones so, I stayed with pack pups. I told them that I wanted the lamb stew, but they did not have any money with them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me waiting for the meatballs</td></tr>
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Pack pup Alora, finally gave me spaghetti and meatballs for dinner from the Old Spaghetti Factory. I think she felt sorry for me because she noticed I could not eat the kibble, so she shared her dinner with me. I love that girl.<br />
We watched some T.V together while pack Daddy and Mommy went for dinner. They must have been very hungry because there was no doggy bag with them when they came home.<br />
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The next morning I went for a morning walk up the mountain with my pack Mommy. The ski hill smells very nice and I even came across the path where a bear was earlier. Very fresh smell I was excited to meet with the bear, but my pack Mommy was not, so we turned to go back down the mountain to the hotel.<br />
We had eggs in a wrap with salsa for breakfast, each pack member saved me a bit. It was good! I gobbled it up but still used my manners. I am a good girl.<br />
Although, my pack did not take me to the spa and pool or order me room service, I loved the Furrmont Chateau Whistler, and I would stay there again but I would take the stairs and not the elevator. That is a scary place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and pack Mommy</td></tr>
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After breakfast we went for another walk because pack leaders needed coffee. I do not understand this. This brown hot liquid that they drink smells terrible. I think they should try meat juice in the morning and then they can share it with me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Agnes Wells</td></tr>
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We then got into the car and drove to a place that has many hot pools that come from the ground. My pack family called it <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2010/06/tsek-hot-springs-aka-stagnes-well-or.html">St. Agnes Well</a> (they have been here before). I do not understand why my pack takes so many baths. They smell good to me, especially after a few days, anyway, I did not take a bath. I stood watch and protected my pack while they bathed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrnCb49EiUt6TCKduuVu6H8JwN1Bs7n5cY-UgDP1MJt7mU9oHC0Judm9z_P6YrBIamsmzItDsNvMbGUlK5bQsY0SLKoeQLCeJcJtVGaMOktak6iRztctHWtzeUQXdX3XQBQ2jKw3FF8Ck/s1600/SAM_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrnCb49EiUt6TCKduuVu6H8JwN1Bs7n5cY-UgDP1MJt7mU9oHC0Judm9z_P6YrBIamsmzItDsNvMbGUlK5bQsY0SLKoeQLCeJcJtVGaMOktak6iRztctHWtzeUQXdX3XQBQ2jKw3FF8Ck/s320/SAM_0103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It was an exhausting weekend for me so I slept on the long car ride home and snuggled with my pack pups Alora and Kalina. It was a great trip and I had a good time.<br />
<br />
Angel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well... Angel is right, and she was pretty thorough with her story, I don't have a lot more to add except this... it was an amazing trip! I loved it!<br />
<br />
Thank-you to my family for a great adventure on my birthday.<br />
<br />
It was exactly what I wanted. I am blessed.<br />
<br />
Love You!<br />
Anuschka<br />
<br />
Here's Angel's slide show that she put together to share with you:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/play/4d7a677a4e7a63774e6a6b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link&partner=facebook" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" height="330" src="http://www.smilebox.com/snap/4d7a677a4e7a63774e6a6b3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=facebook&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmilebox.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">Customize a <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/anytime-slideshows.html?campaign=blog_playback_link&partner=facebook" target="_blank">free photo slideshow</a></td></tr>
</table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-82890127917276674952013-05-07T12:47:00.001-07:002013-05-07T12:47:43.629-07:00Flies and Sanity at the Barn<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9ZoZWzYULX55tVtdFG8OFAuRGuhrOLmI9U40p86G4cRPdF0YnqJYoCO6Yb9uZBmbeJOUpDRDLPCftPazZhGJk7JKuqWhl6k3OjL-_36aQf621u7D8JU5V2cmgHgJ16lyu3rteWMs8YwT/s1600/DSCF0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9ZoZWzYULX55tVtdFG8OFAuRGuhrOLmI9U40p86G4cRPdF0YnqJYoCO6Yb9uZBmbeJOUpDRDLPCftPazZhGJk7JKuqWhl6k3OjL-_36aQf621u7D8JU5V2cmgHgJ16lyu3rteWMs8YwT/s320/DSCF0294.JPG" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was laid off in 2009, and have had difficulties in finding a part-time position close to home. Back in November I started working as a Farm Hand at a local horse stables. I must admit over the last few months, I have had thoughts of, "What the heck am I doing!" and, "How did I go from Accounts Receivables and staying at 5 star hotels to Poop Shoveller?" I must say I have learned a lot, and it's been an amazing journey, with some ups and some downs. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've been keeping a journal for my girls and thought you may enjoy this story, so I'm sharing it on the Wild West Blog. Let me know if you'd like to read more about 'the barn' and I'll share a few more here. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a wonderful day!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anuschka</span></div>
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<b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Flies... they were bad!</span></u></i></b><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday May 6th, 2013</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>The morning started out pretty bad. Our
catalytic converter was stolen off the Toyota 4 Runner and over $2,000 to fix. Last year, there was a string of thefts here in our area and it was all over the local papers. Seems they took a break for a few months after the publicity, but, now they're back. </i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>My first thought, “There goes our vacation money!” I have had such a great need
these days to go rest and relax. My body aches, my mind is burnt out and I just
want to go somewhere and drink margaritas. Even if it’s not Mexico, I don’t care;
I just want to veg out, read a good book by a campfire, write a story or two
beside the ocean, or listen to some beautiful music while sipping a sherry
beside my husband. That’s all I want. It’s not much.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>My drive to work was sorrowful as I
watch my vacation dreams slip away into mechanical bills. I cried. Then I got
angry.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>“How could someone be so disrespectful?
What kind of Mom would bring up a kid like that? Didn’t she teach him manners?”
then some more judgements, “She so... didn’t discipline her kid!” I was still fuming when I started
picking the paddocks at the barn (barn lingo for scooping up the poop). <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“The nerve of some peoples kids, and
now we have to pay for it!” a few flies flew past with a buzz, “How are we
going to pay for this?” I was having a melt down, my own personal pity party as the horses looked on. Then, I began to notice all the flies hanging around the paddocks. There were swarms of them and a few more flies flew past, then one landed in my ear,
“EEEEWWWWW!”</span> </i></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKG66MEatUMAkR2UZ4hp2eipP2bNI5GxwrOyWQ73f_jw11OPxwqBOex3vBGIckITRODfRHBf8qSyckMUL49fgL7R3i3OchwENbSL8vuBrqlhesBwB0OrmKy6GnMhbzLBKTGNsN_Ok3O0O/s1600/P1010049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKG66MEatUMAkR2UZ4hp2eipP2bNI5GxwrOyWQ73f_jw11OPxwqBOex3vBGIckITRODfRHBf8qSyckMUL49fgL7R3i3OchwENbSL8vuBrqlhesBwB0OrmKy6GnMhbzLBKTGNsN_Ok3O0O/s320/P1010049.JPG" width="240" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I was contemplating stealing one of the horse's fly masks.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I did the ‘knock a fly out of your ear’ dance as Lil’ Jo watched
on. His fly mask had fallen off and he was doing his own version of ‘keep the flies off my face’ dance, which
looked very similar to the head bobbing motion found done by patients at a
mental institution. Between the two of us, we probably looked ready for a
straight jacket and a padded room.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Then I entered Odie’s paddock. He
rushed up to me, and rubbed his fly infested face on my arm and I was greeted
by a cloud of the swarming beasties around me and the poop barrow (aka wheelbarrow).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nasty. I may have screamed a bit,
bobbed my head and I distinctly remember my arms were in motion above my head as well.
Looking from a distance some may have thought I was doing a punk rock dance,
but it was just the fly dance (I have another one for mosquito's). </i></span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m so glad
there was no one there to take pictures. </span></span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are things in life that will
irritate you, that will anger you, that will sadden you. Sometimes, it’ll be
small like lice, or medium like flies and sometimes, it’ll be big like those
huge horse flies at the beginning of summer. But you will get through it. You
always do.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOqjVJ-kqqLiHEg6SUxp9TMbez0gf8VNEfUHLVk6odYeyIliTyuSLqW6LPLreQM_bDywhEekCYk8zwBe6vWWMSIYD_MTjh-6dHPr85gFkJoF7NhAymq86Ha0YjYSgw7RpObheyN7B5kag/s1600/brown+recluse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOqjVJ-kqqLiHEg6SUxp9TMbez0gf8VNEfUHLVk6odYeyIliTyuSLqW6LPLreQM_bDywhEekCYk8zwBe6vWWMSIYD_MTjh-6dHPr85gFkJoF7NhAymq86Ha0YjYSgw7RpObheyN7B5kag/s1600/brown+recluse.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As long as it’s not a brown recluse spider… those
things can kill you.</span></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I write this there are 3 flies buzzing around my head by the computer. Did they follow me from the barn... No, the dog left the back door open. She knows how to open the screen door, now I have to teach her how to close it. </span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">For more information on the stolen catalytic converters click <a href="http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/138001923.html">here</a>.</span></span></i><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><i>For more information on the brown recluse spider click <a href="http://brown-recluse.ascendedhealth.com/">here</a>.</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-43876277587319084002012-08-31T11:08:00.002-07:002012-08-31T11:08:35.900-07:00Casa del Pollo Fuego<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"So Rene won't let you cook at home anymore?" The neighbour saw me bringing over a dish of potatoes to cook at Krista's house last Wednesday afternoon. My stove was unplugged due to kitchen Reno's, and my friend so graciously allowed me to use her stove even after what happened on Monday.<br />
"As long as it's not chicken, I'm still allowed to cook." I said to the neighbour and continued to Krista's house. I understand the jokes at my expense, heck, I've made fun of myself as well these last 5 days.<br />
Last Monday afternoon I made a stupid mistake. A mistake that could have left me and my family homeless. A mistake that has left me sleepless for the last 4 nights. A mistake that has made me feel a large range of emotions from sorry for myself, to feeling angry at myself, to feeling humbled and grateful for my life, my family and my friends and neighbours.<br />
Last Monday afternoon I left a pot of chicken on the stove, and left the house to walk the dog. Everyone was with me, Rene, Alora, Kalina and Bella, only the cats were at home. And we had a wonderful long 2 hour walk.<br />
We came home to find 2 fire trucks in front of our townhouse complex and we wondered what happened to our neighbours, and which one may be in trouble. <br />
"That's weird, " Kalina said, "I don't remember opening my bedroom window." Then I remembered the chicken.<br />
"The chicken Rene!" The rest is a bit of a blur.<br />
There was running, there was crying, there was praying, there was chaos, there was a smashed up front door, there was screaming for the cats, there were neighbours consoling, there was a smoking pot of chicken, and then there was relief.<br />
And now, the clean-up. Smoke damage to the kitchen cabinets and a new front door. We are so lucky!<br />
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I am very grateful to my neighbour who heard the smoke alarm and came to investigate then called 911 when they looked into the kitchen window and saw thick smoke, then climbed onto my roof to try and get in Kalina's bedroom window because they thought Rene might still be asleep (he works night shifts but had Monday off). Thank-you for taking that risk for us.<br />
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Thank-you to the Maple Ridge Fire men for getting to my house on time to put out my mistake and making sure the cats were OK.<br />
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Sorry you had a little trouble getting into my front door. It was the six inch screws holding the dead bolt together. Wasn't it?<br />
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At least we know it's really hard for criminals to get in.<br />
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Thank-you to the neighbours who helped with putting in a new front door. The one gave us a deal on a new door and the others who helped install it.<br />
Thank-you for the strawberry cake, and the offer to buy pizza for us Monday night.<br />
Thank-you to Rene, you are amazing and I am truly grateful to you for all the hard work you have done in cleaning up my mess. See the story <a href="http://deedsforneeds.blogspot.ca/2011/05/my-husband-my-hero.html">My husband My hero</a> in the previous mess I made last year (don't worry honey, I don't think I'll be making a mess next year? Keep your fingers crossed).<br />
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Rene and I so appreciate everyone's help. We really live in a wonderful community of people who care and look out for one and other.<br />
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Rene and I would like to celebrate this blessing, the blessing of great neighbours and friends, this Sat (Sept 1st, 2012) at our house. Please come for a BBQ at 4pm at the Casa del Pollo Fuego (the name of our house now - 'The house of the fire chicken' for those who don't speak Spanish).<br />
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Don't worry... I won't be cooking chicken!<br />
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Let us know if you can make it, so we know how many burgers to buy @ <a href="mailto:anoesdelacourt@yahoo.com">anoesdelacourt@yahoo.com</a><br />
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Here's a few more shots of the kitchen Reno's. Once everything is done, I'll post more photo's.<br />
Rene and I were talking about getting a new kitchen for 2 years now... I suppose, sometimes you need to light a fire to get things done?<br />
If you need some kitchen Reno's, I am free to make some Pollo del Fuego anytime. Just let me know.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-83127246028888606712012-08-22T00:26:00.000-07:002012-08-22T00:26:26.980-07:00Vancouver Island - Surf and Turf<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0Zhzwzg4DHpTKmgPZVXWQfk6g9Evl85DaD9aIbllG2SFI6W6VDY1H3wsLEBgII-PH1s5XHq3pUDLUjZLINzAjzBm8WVIchhgoeIpdVIxFMiiBiiIuYrfzdoaokt95rJIAi7Utsh1WmHv/s1600/P1010035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0Zhzwzg4DHpTKmgPZVXWQfk6g9Evl85DaD9aIbllG2SFI6W6VDY1H3wsLEBgII-PH1s5XHq3pUDLUjZLINzAjzBm8WVIchhgoeIpdVIxFMiiBiiIuYrfzdoaokt95rJIAi7Utsh1WmHv/s320/P1010035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takala Ranch</td></tr>
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<b><u>LadySmith - <a href="http://www.takalatrailsranch.com/">Takala Trails Ranch</a></u></b><br />
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In our original family vacation scheduling we were supposed to have left a few days sooner, and we were supposed to have gone in an easterly direction (visit Rene's family in Ontario), however, due to unforeseen circumstances (tiny ants in Biblical proportions which wrecked havoc on 1/2 of my kitchen), we actually ended up going west instead, as far west as we could drive.<br />
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"So what are we going to do now?" Alora asked that earth shattering day 'when the ants came marching in'. We were all looking forward to driving across the wilds of Canada to meet up with loved ones we haven't seen in a while and the question was a simple question really, one that was on everyone's mind. We were down 2 days of driving time and expenses, "What do we do now?"<br />
"Think surf and turf." Rene replied and said no more and walked away. <br />
A little while later I got the gist of what he had in mind and went to work trying to find a opening spot on Vancouver Island where we could lay our heads for the 12 days we had left on our vacation. A few days playing in the surf and a few days playing on turf.<br />
We had originally planned to take Alora for a family trail ride in the <a href="http://www.canadianbadlands.com/cbl/index.jsp">Albertan badlands</a> for her Birthday. I found her birthday request a bit strange, she must be a horse lover if she wants to see her Mom and Dad on a horse and go trail riding. Mind you, this was the second request on the list, the first was a horse and our suburban backyard is way too small to accommodate a species from the equine family.<br />
"How about one of those miniature ponies, the ones that are as big as a dog?" she tried.<br />
"Can you ride it?"<br />
"No."<br />
"Forget it then."<br />
"Can we get a farm?"<br />
"HA ha ha... funny girl!" was my reply, however, she knows her Mom well and how much I would love a few acres one day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Mother</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Daughter</td></tr>
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I found a ranch called <a href="http://www.takalatrailsranch.com/contact.html">Takala Trails</a> in LadySmith, it sits on 48 acres NW of LadySmith right by the Nanaimo Airport, and it backs on to crown land. There is a cabin (min 2 night stay) for $95 a night (week long stays are discounted) and RV sites for rent at $25 a night. Mary and Doug were our hosts for five days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfuOUBnoGoX10G58_-zuExh_87VQHksusVamgkmXtpRJRdVDl7ytXuPAFBkVpFtwXTP-8Eoe8v7Wi9Uc1b7-IODp5TzQ-wOGd1Bi20i1GVqTGOMKXB1jCWr1bZ441NHw90f6OEXhfHjug/s1600/P1010025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfuOUBnoGoX10G58_-zuExh_87VQHksusVamgkmXtpRJRdVDl7ytXuPAFBkVpFtwXTP-8Eoe8v7Wi9Uc1b7-IODp5TzQ-wOGd1Bi20i1GVqTGOMKXB1jCWr1bZ441NHw90f6OEXhfHjug/s320/P1010025.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rene and the cabin</td></tr>
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There is no running water but potable water is supplied in jugs and you can fill up anytime at the barn. There is a propane fridge available to keep things cool and there are 2 butane burners for cooking food inside the cabin. Cooking pots, utensils, and plates are all available inside the cabin. We never used them because we had our own camp gear with us and set up a kitchen outside at the picnic table.<br />
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There is a wood burning stove inside the cabin for heat, on those cold rainy winter days (which we did not experience), and there is a fire pit outside to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Firewood is supplied and brought by tractor to your door.<br />
If you find yourself in need of a lavatory it is located in a separate building a few steps away from the cabin. It has a toilet (RV kind that needs manual help to flush), and a shower room next door (Water is in a black barrel on top of the roof and heats up in the sun - you may need to manually warm up some water on those cold rainy wet dark days).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lavatory and Wash House</td></tr>
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I know what your thinking, what about my conveniences? To make my life easier? To make my life more comfortable? My computer? My IPhone? My dishwasher? My running water? My flush toilet? It's crazy, I know, but truth be told I felt so much more relaxed away from these so called conveniences than I have ever felt surrounded by them. I know it's been amazing weather and that's helped with this 'living outdoors' thing. I get that, I'm not stupid, I haven't needed to make my morning coffee outdoors in a snow storm, but there is something deeply peaceful about living away from the business of society, the running around and feeling like you've gone no where really fast. The rush of living like everyone else and ending up stressed out with high blood pressure and on the verge of a heart attack. There is something genuinely wrong about living that way, and yet we somehow get sucked into it. It takes stepping out of it to catch a glimpse of what life was meant to be. Living off the land has it's hardships, don't get me wrong, it's different than the constant rumblings of bigger and better eating away at the spirit not to mention the physical well-being of us humans. Now, that I've lead you down a bit of a rabbit hole, shall I get back on track?<br />
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Did I mention the horses yet? There are many and one herd grazes in the acreage close to the cabin. There is a gate that closes to prevent them from grazing in the area of the cabin and RV sites, but we left that gate open and a few of them did stop by for a fire roasted carrot (just kidding, they prefer it raw). It was neat and a bit scary at first to see them emerge out of the darkness; massive ghost-like figures yet gentle giants.<br />
The cabin sleeps approx. 5 people (queen bed and single up in the loft and a futon sofa bed below on the main floor). The stairs up into the loft are made from a 1x4 piece of wood and they are a little sore on the feet. For those with tender tootsies and or arthritis bring some hard soled slippers for the climb up and down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper</td></tr>
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The cabin also comes with it's own dog, no need to bring one, however, you can if you wish (please advise Mary or Doug before your arrival). Alora and I found ourselves sitting on the porch trying to guess it's name.<br />
"Manny?" Alora called out in hopes of a tail wag. Nope, no movement.<br />
"Moose." she tried again. His ears twitched and he looked at us and sighed deeply as if to say, "Really? Moose? Is that the best you can do?" After a while he became exasperated with us and our dimwitted names and in a testy huff he got up and walked back to the barn in search of a more intelligent crowd. Later on that day, Doug advised us that his name was Copper. Please be forewarned and use the correct name to avoid the inconvenience of a cold-shoulder.<br />
That first afternoon, Alora and I helped tack up horses for a 7 passenger trail ride ranging in age from teen to 75. Rene and Kalina went on an ocean adventure that day and weren't back yet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 7 passenger trail ride </td></tr>
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Alora continued to helped out Doug and Mary that afternoon and lead one of the 7 (a nervous Mom who had never been on a horse), on a 5 mile trail ride. I sauntered back to the cabin and started on dinner; Tomato Alfredo Beef Broccoli.<br />
The most clever thing I have seen at this ranch is how Doug calls the roaming herd of horses into the barn. There they are just grazing out in the far back pasture and when Doug whistles, back at the barn, their ears twitch and their head goes up, cocks to the side as if to say, "is that what I think I heard?" They stand quite still for a moment and when they hear the next whistle off they trot, through the open gate, down the road and into the barn; each going into their own stall, except for Chester who gets a little confused sometimes, or perhaps he just prefers his neighbours stall?<br />
That night Doug brought the herd's hay near the cabin for the evening feed. What a cool first day!<br />
The following day was our family's turn for that 5 mile Trail ride... on a horse. Did I mention, I am afraid of heights? I get a touch of vertigo when I'm up high on something. Funny thing is I don't feel it when I'm in an enclosed area, like the 26 floor of the Harbour center for example (where I used to work right by the window) or an airplane. It seems I only get lightheaded in high places outdoors, like the Eiffel Tower in France (where Rene proposed to me) or on the back of a horse.<br />
Alora rode Bree, Kalina rode Cimeron, Rene was on The Avenger (aka-Blossom, this was her real name - Avenger was only for that day), and I was on the disoriented horse named Chester.<br />
"Now look Chester buddy, ol' pal, old friend... I'm not afraid of horses you see... I just have this thing about heights... I'll be a good girl for you", I whispered softly into his ear and massaged his shoulder to bond with him, "not much trouble at all. So, can you be a good boy for me? Help me out buddy? Do we have a deal?" He snorted at me and I took this as an affirmative.<br />
My heart raced as I prepared to <i>board</i> Chester (sorry, that's my 19 years in the Travel Industry lingo coming out), "if 75 year old Granny managed him for 5 miles yesterday, I could do it no problem today." My <i>mounting</i> onto Chester was not as graceful as I would have liked (dis-mount was even worse), but I did manage to get on and was I facing the right way I might add (sorry, no pictures of this as I had the camera in my pocket and I refused to let go of the reins to fish it out of my pocket and lean sideways to pass it to Rene who was on 'The Advenger' and making Chester nervous enough to do a little side step dance... all to capture a 'Kodak' moment - I think not).<br />
"So, is Mom going to move?" Doug our host asked me as the rest of my family galloped on their horses around him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Bree</td></tr>
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"You mean I have to move too?" I was very happy and content to just to be on this thing. I was still at the mounting block and it took me a moment to ease out of my vertigo. I was very grateful that Chester was not in a hurry to move.<br />
"Are you Okay?" I happen to see Rene mouth the words to me as he sprinted by, he could see that I was way out of my comfort zone, and I found out later at the camp fire, so was he. The Avenger apparently lived up to her fraudulent name and was not a graceful moving <i>blossom</i> fluttering in the wind but a mover and a shaker... a go getter, so to speak.<br />
"Just squeeze your legs together and say, Chester walk on." I was advised as my family was heading out the ring and towards the trail. It took Chester and I a few more moments to find the right pressure in the squeeze for the legs and the right tone in the voice. Not Chester's fault, he probably couldn't read my mixed signals. Inside I was screaming, "GET ME OFF THIS THING!" and on the outside I was whispering, "Chester walk on." It was only after Doug handed me a crop that Chester decided to move forward and follow the pack... and to think... I didn't even have to say a word. Doug called it 'incentive'. I never really had to use the crop, just it's being there was sufficient 'incentive' for forward motion.<br />
Chester and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the sides of the pathways. At first I thought his motivation to walk so closely to the trees and bushes was in hopes of knocking me off his back, but I saw quickly that he had no ill wishes for me and the need to see me plummet to the ground was not his intention at all. It was so he could catch a quick snack on a leaf or two as we meandered along the trail, it was a fine pace for me, my only irritation being an occasional mouth full of leaves for myself (Chester was very considerate that way).<br />
After a while, I began to enjoy the slow side to side movement and I felt the tension in my muscles relax a bit as we dawdled through the forest. I had only a moment of panic when Doug and possibly Alora, decided it would be more fun to move a little faster along a forest service road and the horses were urged into an open throttle gallop.<br />
"Mom... it was a canter, not a gallop." I hear Alora saying, but to me it was a gallop at full speed and it seemed as if the trees zipped past me in light speed fashion and me not knowing how to post (the movement your body makes to absorb the shock of bouncing). Needless to say, I'm glad I wore my sports bra, besides, Chester wasn't too interested in keeping at that break neck pace for long, so my <i>gallop</i> was not prolonged. Whew!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Chester</td></tr>
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"It was an amazing ride, and yes Chester, I would ride you again. Thank-you buddy for being such a good boy."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanaimo River</td></tr>
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That afternoon, for a cool down we found a beautiful spot along the Nanaimo River and did a little swimming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crayfish</td></tr>
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We brought along snorkel and masks and saw crayfish and trout.<br />
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Made <a href="http://screen.yahoo.com/sausage-and-peppers-29592037.html">Fabio's Italian Sausages and peppers in a Marinara Sauce</a> for dinner that evening and relaxed. Funny, my rump felt a little bruised as I eased into my camp chair. Must have been the bouncing.<br />
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The following day brought us another amazing day... a day at our very own secluded beach on Tent Island. We took our Zodiac out early and launched it into the water at <a href="http://www.chemainus.com/">Chemainus</a>.<br />
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Our Captain, who happened to be a rugged handsome fellow who drank a thick cowboy coffee each morning to put hairs on his chest, knew the waters well. He had been out there 2 days earlier with his youngest daughter.<br />
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These two knew exactly where they wanted to take us land lubbers. <a href="http://hikebiketravel.com/12342/kayaking-tent-island-bcs-gulf-islands/">Tent Island</a> was our destination.<br />
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The SW side of the Island that day was full of boats and people so we continued to the NE side and found a secluded cove. We snorkeled and explored, saw oysters, little fish with colourful stripes, sea anemones, star fish and what may have been an eel or a very long fish.<br />
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Next we headed towards the west side of Cooper and Thetis Islands. Half way between them is a rock jetty, and it was fill of seals and their pups.<br />
We fished for a while and hung our heads over the boat to watch the jelly fish float by. It took approx. 15 minutes to cross the inlet from Thetis Island back to the boat launch in Chemainus.<br />
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Alora made dinner that evening, a cheesy ground beef and macaroni - Delicious!<br />
At that evenings campfire we had 2 guests drop by, Blossom and Atlas. It was hard to just get up from the campfire and go to bed. Those 2 (Atlas and Blossom) didn't seem to want to leave, and it would have been terribly rude on our behalf to have forced them to leave. Needless to say we all retired very late that evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky helping Rene pack the car</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlas, Alora and Kalina</td></tr>
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The last day at the ranch and clean-up day was SundayAugust 12th. We wanted to have everything packed except sleeping bags and PJ's. Breakfast the following day was going to be at <a href="http://www.oldcountrymarket.com/">Goats On The Roof.</a><br />
As I packed that day I noticed a distinct smell of cedar, campfire and Eau de Cheval (sounds like a fancy Parisian perfume, doesn't it?). It made me wonder if it was part of the cabin aroma or if it was coming off our clothes. Oh well... Ce la Vie... around chevals that is.<br />
Atlas and Sky came for a visit that night, they helped to pack up the Zodiac and the two grapefruits we had left on the picnic table. Atlas had a bite of grapefruit before Kalina could get to it. He puckered his face when he spit it out.<br />
The two must have slept close to the cabin that last evening, comforting each other at the prospects of missing us deeply the following day, needing to be close to the ones that hand out carrots for midnight snacks... because they were hanging out around the cabin the following morning too. They would miss us deeply... Ahem?... they would miss our carrots for sure and that's close enough.<br />
Thank-you Chester, Atlas, Sky, Bree, Cimeron, Blossom (aka The Avenger) and Thank-you Mary and Doug Carr for your wonderful hospitality. You will most likely see us again in the near future.<br />
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Next stop <a href="http://www.ucluelet.ca/">Ukluelet</a>...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our back deck</td></tr>
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<b><u>Ukluelet - <a href="http://www.wyapoint.com/">Wya Point Resort</a></u></b><br />
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Yurt on the beach... Wow! Words alone can not express the beauty of this place and the deep profound peace I felt at being here. I'm afraid I didn't write too much down for this segment of the holiday, because I was mostly in a state of awe. Images and snapshots are all I can share of waves, peace, wind, body surfing, family, sand and rocks. It was amazing.<br />
For more adventures from a past blog on this side of the Island... see my <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2010/08/parksville-tofino.html">Tofino</a> blog.<br />
<br />
Last leg, Parksville...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z3o0bOxrIq6BXdZ7yH4keRlmWDjcoHgwWrzrKFtOqodA8zSSRx_yAOP9EWZky8SufcoBRR9QkJryOOi-07uVefBpEihw3fJKSGJ9Te11t1k8OApKI7pYF4cOBHnR-H-SwRdVivkiMQF4/s1600/P1010211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Z3o0bOxrIq6BXdZ7yH4keRlmWDjcoHgwWrzrKFtOqodA8zSSRx_yAOP9EWZky8SufcoBRR9QkJryOOi-07uVefBpEihw3fJKSGJ9Te11t1k8OApKI7pYF4cOBHnR-H-SwRdVivkiMQF4/s320/P1010211.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>Parksville - <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/rathtrevor/">Rathtrevor Beach</a></u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Not much to say here as well... because it's all been said before... see <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2010/07/parksville-rathtrevor-provincial-park.html">Rathtrevor</a> in my previous blog.<br />
Rathtrevor did ease us back into the throngs of society again. It's sounding like a little city in there with the hum of generators, stench of lavatories and the cries and howls of small animals (dogs and kids). Truth be told, I was ready to pack it all up and head back to the quiet of the ranch again.<br />
But... I love the beach... and the way the tide goes out for miles. We did a lot of walking, resting and Sudoku. Lukas stayed with us too for the last two days. He said he missed camping with Speedo Man. See our <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.ca/2012/07/mable-lake-bc-bugs-they-were-bad.html">Mable Lake</a> adventure. <br />
<br />
Here's a slide show for more photo's for those interested:<br />
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d7a49354e6a59354e6a413d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" height="330" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d7a49354e6a59354e6a413d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=facebook&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmilebox.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For those interested in the Cowboy Coffee Recipe:</b><br />
<br />
Items you will need - Coffee, water, a metal coffee pot and a flame (propane or wood fire).<br />
Add water and coffee into a pot and bring to a boil, let them boil together for a few minutes. Pour into cups and enjoy! Add cream and sugar if need be. Very manly coffee! Full bodied flavour. Puts hair on your chest. Do not throw away the coffee grounds, just add a fresh scoop for the next pot, etc... when the pot is 1/2 full with old coffee grounds then throw out and start again.<br />
<br />
For a less manly coffee... add a 1/4 cup cold water to the pot after grounds and water have boiled (this pulls the grounds to the bottom of the pot) and pour carefully into the cups. Throw out grounds and start fresh for the new pot.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-26943062435001026212012-07-19T01:59:00.000-07:002012-07-25T15:48:58.563-07:00Mable Lake B.C - The Bugs... They Were Bad.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PcUmtvfZFkr_-HYiDc7wYr1t4O1vDqR3JYzF3_OHafptp2YOx3Y_4c-6uljTZ2WMXWf-Z7D_tbejoiLSC_Kzwa6HRgXiZKGfuo191t8HePZDQM6ceWEdOs6svIqdUW663tvT47v2P3T4/s1600/P1010051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PcUmtvfZFkr_-HYiDc7wYr1t4O1vDqR3JYzF3_OHafptp2YOx3Y_4c-6uljTZ2WMXWf-Z7D_tbejoiLSC_Kzwa6HRgXiZKGfuo191t8HePZDQM6ceWEdOs6svIqdUW663tvT47v2P3T4/s320/P1010051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddle boat rental $10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
have only two enemies in life. That’s not too bad, eh? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Keep
you’re friends close and your enemies closer.” I was once told, but I didn’t
want those two enemies of mine anywhere near me last week at Mable Lake. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Love
your enemies.” A wise man said once, but I don’t think he meant my two foes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
These
two adversaries of mine are disgusting, horrible, and they will drive any rational,
strong and stable individual to the brink of insanity. They are… whiners and
bugs (mostly the biting one’s… that’s the bugs… not the whiners). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I’ve
thought very deeply, this whole week, about why each was created and I had a
very tough time trying to find the meaning, purpose, and value in such evil
brutes. I suppose the first was created to teach me patience, self-control, and
kindness for those who chose to live in a more negative way, and well, the
latter? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
have no flip’en clue why God created the mosquito. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There
I was a perfectly sane Mama one second, who stepped out of the car upon our arrival
at Mable Lake Provincial Park, to help unpack the heavy loaded trailer, and in a few
moments… with every blood sucking prick into my flesh… I became Monster Mama,
horns and all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
retired early that evening. After the tent was set up. There were no bugs in the tent, at least not after
I killed them all. You see, I needed a time out, a time to build up my mental
strength and find a way to resist turning into Monster Mama despite having
those blood thirsty insects around. It was going to be a long week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“What
doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” The kids sang the following day. I have a
feeling Kelly Clarkson was not referring to mosquito's when she wrote it, but
never the less; it was a fitting theme song for the week. Even the dog was
having problems with those relentless insects, and she hid out in the tent every moment she could.
Princess Dog!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
After
two days, Lukas looked like he had the Chicken Pox. I see more garlic and
onions in his future (it supposedly makes your blood unappealing to mosquito's).
He may not like the taste of garlic, but perhaps his sister will make him a
garlic necklace? I wonder if that would help? At least he won't have a problem with vampires.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi6VLKAUOnaWUknCU01p_fQlOBfubd3SIxbqm2-A0bcLqVb_1-l-efarbJFkkjeuVqN5R3QmMoik6zk9U6dgZuYM5i61gGF7Gz_pCg_oKsVpvcfCyfCvuu5LmJnqFNxwNEkvJMZTZQ9M8/s1600/IMG-20120713-00438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUi6VLKAUOnaWUknCU01p_fQlOBfubd3SIxbqm2-A0bcLqVb_1-l-efarbJFkkjeuVqN5R3QmMoik6zk9U6dgZuYM5i61gGF7Gz_pCg_oKsVpvcfCyfCvuu5LmJnqFNxwNEkvJMZTZQ9M8/s320/IMG-20120713-00438.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lukas chillin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
That
second day, the kids had made a pact with one and other, “If you see a
mosquito, slap and destroy.” Kalina slapped Alora, and Alora slapped Kalina
with big smiles on their faces, and Lukas… well he was taught never to hit a
girl, but he almost slapped his Uncle Rene.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
They
were sitting around the campfire, nice and smoky, telling each other stories.
It was Lukas’ turn and he was sitting beside his Uncle. As he told his story,
suddenly in mid-sentence, his hand shot up and he swung it towards his Uncle’s
forehead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You
see, Lukas is a thinking boy, he is constantly thinking about what’s happening
and the logic and consequences of the action, so as his hand headed towards
Rene’s forehead, he possibly thought, “What am I doing slapping Uncle Rene? He
has to drive me home!” In mid-slap he eased on the velocity towards Rene, bent
all fingers except his pointer, and gently poked and squished the mosquito.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We
went out onto the lake with the Zodiac a lot, only because there were no bugs in the
middle of the lake. On the third day we found a nice spot with a rope swing and
not too many bugs along the east side of the lake. The kids swam towards the
rope as Rene and I tied the boat off on a fallen log on the small beach (due to
the wet spring and summer as well as the run off from the mountains, the water
level was high and the beaches were microscopic). Rene began to take off his
MEC pants and underneath he is wearing the dreaded Speedo (his usual choice is
a shorts style bathing suit, but for some strange reason he chose his old
Speedo for that day).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“DAD!
NO! You didn’t!” Alora, our teenage daughter sputtered, disgusted at the sight
of her dad in tight swim pants, “I can’t believe it!” and she looked away
embarrassed. Lukas couldn’t stop laughing;
perhaps he was wondering what his dad might look like in a Speedo? I thought
Rene looked good, but then again, I’m his wife.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Oh
no! Here comes Speedo Man!” Kalina sang out from the black inner tube she was
floating in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
All
day and into the evening the kids teased Rene and told us stories about, ‘The
Adventures of Speedo Man.’ Dant, Dant, Da! (Even came with music). Kalina made
up a skit of how mild mannered Dad turns into ‘Speedo Man’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Help!
Speedo Man.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Mild
mannered Rene hears the cry for help.” Kalina says in her best narrator voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“I’m
coming!” she states in a deep voice. Then she pretends the zipper of her
pretend pants gets stuck, ”Oops, just one minute,” and she hops around trying
to unzip a false zipper. Then rips the fake pants off in one fell swoop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Ah,
a child’s imagination. Wonderful!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL7P3wOawhaMgamk7SeE4aOLioLNX4x6U_UfBRkAPuLs3gVHOaAO3n-kYFpAS0mqtHnEJLGDeJtSZ_wmi2jquQi6_umYqo5xHLVopT68JyuFp4jYod5B5pTHeIVQVO8k-hur2Wgf73QzC/s1600/IMG-20120713-00439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL7P3wOawhaMgamk7SeE4aOLioLNX4x6U_UfBRkAPuLs3gVHOaAO3n-kYFpAS0mqtHnEJLGDeJtSZ_wmi2jquQi6_umYqo5xHLVopT68JyuFp4jYod5B5pTHeIVQVO8k-hur2Wgf73QzC/s320/IMG-20120713-00439.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedo Man in his informal gear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
following evening as Rene tucked the kids into bed he found a white bra in
Lukas’ sleeping bag.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Buddy.”
Rene asked, “Do you need to tell me something?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“What?”
Lukas questioned, as Rene held up the bra. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Did
your Mom pack a bra for you instead of a stuffy toy?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Lukas
you got some ‘splanning’ to do!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
had changed into my bathing suit earlier that day in the kids tent, because it
was taller than the one Rene and I shared and I’m getting a day older and don’t
want to bend over or lie down to change my clothes anymore. I had folded all my
clothes, tucked my skivvies into my pants, and placed them on top of my girls
blue clothes box. I figured, when the girls went into their box to find clean
clothes to change into, they didn’t see my clothes lying on top and when they flung the lid open my clothes went flying into Lukas’ bed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PaZ2EZC5sK1lCPl2-NrK04btBp9jq2kgZiQybtTpelx9_iIOokc_MZfTN2t2sngEMVY9G4plczclcG2O7QTZDd1Ojf4mxAPk84iTYIAFI-bHJ2GSDwbUpbWQs5Q5A9P3bglsnY6dKrBb/s1600/IMG-20120713-00442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PaZ2EZC5sK1lCPl2-NrK04btBp9jq2kgZiQybtTpelx9_iIOokc_MZfTN2t2sngEMVY9G4plczclcG2O7QTZDd1Ojf4mxAPk84iTYIAFI-bHJ2GSDwbUpbWQs5Q5A9P3bglsnY6dKrBb/s320/IMG-20120713-00442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
following morning, Lukas needed to chop a piece of wood to whittle with that
day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“The
axe is on top of our clothes box in our tent.” Rene said and Lukas made his way
to our tent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“AHHHHHHHH!”
a scream came from with our small green tent startling everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“What’s
wrong Lukas?” Rene asked as he headed towards the direction of the scream.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“There’s
a bra and a speedo next to the axe!” Lukas yelped and hurried out the tent, axe
in hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“You’ll
probably need to invest in a little therapy when you get home from this trip.”
Rene replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmActrQ004i9510FlTIMr8gxKXoWj5I-V_P8nvj25OUT5Em4bkC_9L3FZBoIQ0p_UrP_zBIZw5pFLRH9mnsYg0Vq3ldG5g5xjWI-jcrSh92B9vtUic0tz8pVHYCxwVN0BT7Ef0-AR9E0f/s1600/IMG-20120713-00441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmActrQ004i9510FlTIMr8gxKXoWj5I-V_P8nvj25OUT5Em4bkC_9L3FZBoIQ0p_UrP_zBIZw5pFLRH9mnsYg0Vq3ldG5g5xjWI-jcrSh92B9vtUic0tz8pVHYCxwVN0BT7Ef0-AR9E0f/s320/IMG-20120713-00441.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
On
one of the last beautiful sunny days, we took the boat out into the middle
of the lake and we dove off the boat and into the cold water, except me. They all wanted to
try to swim to shore and since the dog can’t maneuver the Zodiac I was captain
and Angel was first mate. We had a rope attached to the back of the boat and
after a while I ended up dragging 3 weary children behind me. After a few more
minutes they wanted in the boat. Rene was still in the water, just up ahead. I
made Alora captain and I jumped in after my husband. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
icy water shocked my system. My breath came in gasps and quick huffs as I tried
to catch up with my husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Any
minute now, I’ll get used to this cold.” And I swam faster to heat things up. A
few minutes later, I felt tingles up and down my legs and arms. My heartbeat
quickened and I knew at that moment that this icy water was not my friend. I
needed to get out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“ALORA!”
I waved an arm for her to see. Like a pro she glided the boat beside me and
killed the motor (her dad had been giving her lessons all week). I tried to
climb up into the boat, but the tingles in my hands and feet didn’t give me the
strength I needed to pull myself up onto the rounded sides of the zodiac. The
kids didn’t have enough strength either to pull me up and Rene was almost at
the shore by this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“Go
get your dad.” I said and splashed back into the water with a frustrated sigh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“I’m
okay.” I said and began to swim again to keep warm. Alora looked worried and
didn’t want to leave my side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“It’s
okay,” I said again, “Go get Speedo Man.” She threw me a life jacket and off
she went to fetch my hero. Within minutes they were back, and Speedo Man pulled
me onto the boat and into his arms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
“I
love you Speedo Man.” I sighed and cuddled closer to his warmth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTtIO9ikL2xa9RHAX2ZMCTV-yOeo1J4iGRDb_T9UOcNoycvGVLsLNB89ExfyGYCiLAX1OSfehmUfeUYxAHWRtPqAaflnGn-o7Zqyryw4QZwKIdHPmQ12SDIWwGFGAnXDp29sTgDtcou93/s1600/P1010035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTtIO9ikL2xa9RHAX2ZMCTV-yOeo1J4iGRDb_T9UOcNoycvGVLsLNB89ExfyGYCiLAX1OSfehmUfeUYxAHWRtPqAaflnGn-o7Zqyryw4QZwKIdHPmQ12SDIWwGFGAnXDp29sTgDtcou93/s320/P1010035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Mable Marina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Other
than in the tent, or out on the water for a dinner cruise in the zodiac, I
found the<a href="http://www.mabellakebc.com/"> South Mable Lake Marina</a> to be free from bugs as well and I could
relax and gain strength again to face those pesky critters. The musk oil I
bought there helped as well. </div>
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I love this little marina with its comfy
Adirondack chairs and jazz music playing softly in the background, a little
piece of heaven on earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I actually love everything about Mable Lake, it’s one of my favourite places to be, minus
the mosquito's. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S: I'm fine now, all warmed up. I only get tingly when I catch a glimpse of Speedo Man. </div>
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Enjoy the video!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/M7s-Pn_QDro/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M7s-Pn_QDro?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M7s-Pn_QDro?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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The camera went for a swim, it drowned, but the card inside was still okay. Here's a few more pictures:</div>
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</div>
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d7a49324d7a63354d444d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook" height="330" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d7a49324d7a63354d444d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;" width="420" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=facebook&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmilebox.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">This <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">digital scrapbooking design</a> customized with Smilebox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-89787089279071076832012-04-16T09:00:00.000-07:002012-04-17T13:53:19.313-07:00Yoda and the Dogside of the ForcePart Three of 'Cat Man...Dog Woman'.<br />
<br />
For Part One see: <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/02/finding-perfect-dog.html">http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/02/finding-perfect-dog.html</a><br />
For Part Two see: <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/02/angels-do-fall-sometimes.html">http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/02/angels-do-fall-sometimes.html</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL-bVW0IFzO0-zrxu1_kMQfiggvRylvJCEqjjHh46ToG0ymZPX3Dd01weh8rcsT54Z8zxqKjWK9Ctg66tz8I6G9HA9dBmSlmK7AX9mgJTnFWZRLC1EbRjzlVENtiTxoiE_rHUw5-pcpxW/s1600/yoda-sad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoL-bVW0IFzO0-zrxu1_kMQfiggvRylvJCEqjjHh46ToG0ymZPX3Dd01weh8rcsT54Z8zxqKjWK9Ctg66tz8I6G9HA9dBmSlmK7AX9mgJTnFWZRLC1EbRjzlVENtiTxoiE_rHUw5-pcpxW/s320/yoda-sad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoda the little wise green man</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Has Yoda (the cat) really gone to the dogside? Cat man may not believe it, but I do. Read on, and decide for yourself...<br />
<br />
Yoda's been with us for six years now. He was only 3 weeks old when he and his siblings came from the SPCA and into our lives.<br />
"Can you foster care a mom with 6 kittens?" That afternoon we picked up Jelly, and her cutsie little 6 beans.<br />
There are times when I still feel such an overwhelming loss and remorse at having to give them all up, but beans grow and we live in a townhouse, not a farm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9OpGlAtLUXmM6hf1F0nbatLFBksM9ZgR67wiPfae7H3sDMzxDjIbu-_4g38psD0aFTcHQveSr5a5GKFcLU09u2R_T3sFRlY_Z1dapB1wSAuZriM1IFTC98Et2qCNMAAlpi05bk_NFE-v/s1600/P9100006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9OpGlAtLUXmM6hf1F0nbatLFBksM9ZgR67wiPfae7H3sDMzxDjIbu-_4g38psD0aFTcHQveSr5a5GKFcLU09u2R_T3sFRlY_Z1dapB1wSAuZriM1IFTC98Et2qCNMAAlpi05bk_NFE-v/s320/P9100006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNh9ngwMNfQwTh2KdzcYJS1M7bW7Xg4WGJASp2raAwzvoh1_XcuafOalNfHtmHL87jRtTIkHYEe6qkujwkLy5sh-bpcAyBa8L005SNUpJ3b61W6OlhyphenhyphenhzRaTS7dlhiB7ExRGGhefhP2W-/s1600/P9010060_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNh9ngwMNfQwTh2KdzcYJS1M7bW7Xg4WGJASp2raAwzvoh1_XcuafOalNfHtmHL87jRtTIkHYEe6qkujwkLy5sh-bpcAyBa8L005SNUpJ3b61W6OlhyphenhyphenhzRaTS7dlhiB7ExRGGhefhP2W-/s320/P9010060_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jelly and her beans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So... we could only keep one...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RAg2QNtwPMMNyxWVgxZIcbwQmRElIK7duyDOkf7YGxcIRnjocVQX0S8iWrkL82B3qEMWV9XAzSr5LcqZ6BQYtBvd_u-NtLfvbjLuTLyq570F9ilTdFe5nHxrsV199VZu470XEXDCElXe/s1600/jellybean.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RAg2QNtwPMMNyxWVgxZIcbwQmRElIK7duyDOkf7YGxcIRnjocVQX0S8iWrkL82B3qEMWV9XAzSr5LcqZ6BQYtBvd_u-NtLfvbjLuTLyq570F9ilTdFe5nHxrsV199VZu470XEXDCElXe/s320/jellybean.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Jellybean was a great mom. She kept all her little beans close to her side, she always knew where they were, and was patient with them when they got into trouble. We thought about keeping her, because quite truthfully, once back at the SPCA, who would want to adopt an old cat when there's cute kittens around. But somehow, when she went back to the SPCA to get 'fixed', we lost track of her. There were complications and her wound became infected. The administrator was a little vague with the details. I'm still unsure if she was ever adopted or if she passed away due to complications. I could cry just thinking of the latter (Yes, Dog Woman can cry over a cat). My hope is that she lived a long happy life with a family who loved her, maybe still loves her? Let's think happy thoughts shall we? The kittens:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATtoOMK8Y8CfrHP7R9NlUFj9w1XrYn3e9oRwilAjVCefitzkaKz7KOtqAB2q03SyvisbiDv7vi-0Mm3fm7eznqJv-ra4Dp2uGiYiSY0gvElY_SgpxCwAf0L4oHN2CED94e29plStjR5Zr/s1600/Sleepy+boots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATtoOMK8Y8CfrHP7R9NlUFj9w1XrYn3e9oRwilAjVCefitzkaKz7KOtqAB2q03SyvisbiDv7vi-0Mm3fm7eznqJv-ra4Dp2uGiYiSY0gvElY_SgpxCwAf0L4oHN2CED94e29plStjR5Zr/s320/Sleepy+boots.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
There was Boots...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZv893x4TUk0tBRzkf2ce30DB_ouQu4QIIWDCdGJPu1jllqtG8cehn_5mo2qQEOa-GeDnmyX7xncsDE1l1TeRTcxW3U7yxLp9mayDXY697kRzG-ph8iZqY_-aaetpR-cQsslaT8EL9snZ/s1600/Sleepy+sweat+pea+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZv893x4TUk0tBRzkf2ce30DB_ouQu4QIIWDCdGJPu1jllqtG8cehn_5mo2qQEOa-GeDnmyX7xncsDE1l1TeRTcxW3U7yxLp9mayDXY697kRzG-ph8iZqY_-aaetpR-cQsslaT8EL9snZ/s320/Sleepy+sweat+pea+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sweat Pea...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AYLu-AqvXjbT0DBEKg0lfLFZKHHoWqtWY1JXB6MBVkboI-vJSe-e216KRgyCAnryrDMIPE2a9OxXnMJj25-ZdzfNO3kkVeAi3wp87BQx8Gv5ahD643USdmt3J9zqyTU9ybb2ee-iUz5_/s1600/Mis+adventure.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AYLu-AqvXjbT0DBEKg0lfLFZKHHoWqtWY1JXB6MBVkboI-vJSe-e216KRgyCAnryrDMIPE2a9OxXnMJj25-ZdzfNO3kkVeAi3wp87BQx8Gv5ahD643USdmt3J9zqyTU9ybb2ee-iUz5_/s320/Mis+adventure.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Miss-Adventure...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaEBleM7p1rlf3Kn4V7bK3us5q6a0O0oR22eq58BRHVhzrvQpMe5-iGeG18yQ64Qs5ZhPWoDNN4T7ialoES_tsfPwf59CHgP-m48ZlLjzyCWjlIBzVohWMoBld0U47E8S17ASwp5K-nfs/s1600/Sweet+Pea+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaEBleM7p1rlf3Kn4V7bK3us5q6a0O0oR22eq58BRHVhzrvQpMe5-iGeG18yQ64Qs5ZhPWoDNN4T7ialoES_tsfPwf59CHgP-m48ZlLjzyCWjlIBzVohWMoBld0U47E8S17ASwp5K-nfs/s320/Sweet+Pea+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Indie...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8js7rOny9Jr1ARWj_IniiKr5Vuqq-2ulepA6duIvooMLjf10WIANPQRrDwfuLFLeCRGPAaRRY5ZlvsSXC50PtGYpHVjSgg32gH-Y-EkaHXYc6_bK7f8xoJ7XwqSVnawO1U1daRomIoABZ/s1600/P9010065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8js7rOny9Jr1ARWj_IniiKr5Vuqq-2ulepA6duIvooMLjf10WIANPQRrDwfuLFLeCRGPAaRRY5ZlvsSXC50PtGYpHVjSgg32gH-Y-EkaHXYc6_bK7f8xoJ7XwqSVnawO1U1daRomIoABZ/s320/P9010065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and Yoda's brother Trouble...<br />
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Remember when he and Miss-Adventure stole a sausage off the dinner plate? I swear I just turned for a second to get the potatoes in the kitchen and when I came back a sausage was missing off a plate... they were dragging it across the floor.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3-2P7KdX6sPOyge_NOm6ilcxYlASMn6gCHoyqzSr_LW6wLQQRizB7zvHH2dbDGSNfxIhOSuiXm7DFHB6KSIr_8Z3HuzU6BR1kmtn1Cktq8wj512arcFO9mBZ2VjjeOdaCZ8ZRBLBAear/s1600/Little+Yoda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3-2P7KdX6sPOyge_NOm6ilcxYlASMn6gCHoyqzSr_LW6wLQQRizB7zvHH2dbDGSNfxIhOSuiXm7DFHB6KSIr_8Z3HuzU6BR1kmtn1Cktq8wj512arcFO9mBZ2VjjeOdaCZ8ZRBLBAear/s320/Little+Yoda.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoda the kitten</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We chose Yoda, not because he was cute and the others weren't... but because he was the most like his Mama, maybe not in looks, but in character.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJu7KSCFkH9z0ER3PE0tKOefG1PyhaTTOVYF1RVLnY5NMEAX0cnDq8-H7guTuG9AADpCxBZErcmTIUwzhZleH3M9faMKVhAfsFKFx08oqk3rUKmG9kBDaiKqVla6PDKXlu4AFFdo7ed8E/s1600/Pharoh+snuggles+with+Yoda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJu7KSCFkH9z0ER3PE0tKOefG1PyhaTTOVYF1RVLnY5NMEAX0cnDq8-H7guTuG9AADpCxBZErcmTIUwzhZleH3M9faMKVhAfsFKFx08oqk3rUKmG9kBDaiKqVla6PDKXlu4AFFdo7ed8E/s320/Pharoh+snuggles+with+Yoda.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...and he got along with <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/01/worth-knowing.html">Queen Pharaoh</a>.<br />
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So now, the question I ask you is this... is Yoda more like a cat or a dog? Here are two lists of character traits... let's see which one is longer?<br />
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<u><b><i>Like a Cat</i></b></u><br />
<i>1. He brought home a bird once and dropped it at my feet (that was so gross!).</i><br />
<i>2. He cat naps.</i><br />
<i>3. He sleeps on your face, or crawls under the covers with you (unlike a dog who sleeps at the end of your bed...oh wait a minute...Yoda does that too).</i><br />
<i>4. They say, looks may be deceiving...but he does look like a cat.</i><br />
<i>5. He plays with strings and feathers.</i><br />
<i>6. He loves cat nip.</i><br />
<i>7. He torments the dog and the neighbours dog Chopper. He sticks his paw through the neighbours mail slot in the door, as if to say, "Nanna nana boo boo, you can't get me." And he chases Angel around the house (Angel kisses him, he bites her ankles - I keep telling her she's 5 times bigger, but she's such an Angel, she holds no grudges).</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i><b><u>Like a Dog</u></b></i><br />
<i>1. He licks water out of the toilet.</i><br />
<i>2. He steals food from the table.</i><br />
<i>3. He seeks out human companionship. Unlike Pharaoh who is anti-social.</i><br />
<i>4. He likes to go for walks with the dog and I.</i><br />
<i>5. He seeks out the companionship of other dogs (only to torment them - just a little technicality).</i><br />
<i>6. He likes to lick you (Blah... I know where that tongue has been! Just be careful when you yawn, he like to stick his head right into your mouth).</i><br />
<i>7. He sleeps at the end of the bed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Well, looks like it's a tie. Yoda is either a dog or a cat.<br />
Makes me wonder... if the cat has dog characteristics... can Cat Man have dog characteristics too?<br />
Is Cat Man really a closet dog lover?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0jg7-2K01ylF-AMtBqVHcycV_O9En7k6uMlB9qMIOPO6Umq428ADJ3Q4jz8_jrV81gCuDm9C2ga5zgzzPr1MtdJEXaAVal_AiQeMNGZEbcTAnHUIhGx_7dtHstJTyg-jb2hsGqLHgqLd/s1600/DSCF2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0jg7-2K01ylF-AMtBqVHcycV_O9En7k6uMlB9qMIOPO6Umq428ADJ3Q4jz8_jrV81gCuDm9C2ga5zgzzPr1MtdJEXaAVal_AiQeMNGZEbcTAnHUIhGx_7dtHstJTyg-jb2hsGqLHgqLd/s320/DSCF2325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that Yoda sleeping with the dog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My sources tell me, Cat Man was found in bed with Angel... Could it be true?<br />
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Stay tuned for Part four of "Cat Man and Dog Woman."<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-12432029027263509652012-04-10T13:52:00.000-07:002012-04-10T13:52:06.739-07:00Easter - Bunnies pooping chocolate eggs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Why do we celebrate Easter? Is it about bunnies pooping out chocolate eggs? Or is it really something more?<br />
I was reading that in ancient times the egg represented new life, a re-birth of sorts in spring festivals of long ago. Don't know how the bunny got involved? If you find out, let me know.<br />
Spring is a time of re-birth, the death of winter awakens in the spring.<br />
Sunday morning I wondered why I did not feel awakened, alive and refreshed. You see I was up four times during the night to let the dog out. Angel had an upset tummy and I resented the fact that I was the only one in our family who heard her whining. As I grumbled my way back into bed for the last time at 5:53am, I thought of how irritated and resentful I felt towards the dog and my family for the lack of sleep.<br />
"You have more than me!" I awoke at 7:45am to the melodious Easter melody of children fighting, as to, whom had more pooped out chocolate than the other.<br />
"Is this what Easter is all about? Is it about the greed of how many candies I have?" At that moment, in my grumpy state, I hated the Easter bunny. I also realized, that maybe I didn't do such a good job teaching my children what Easter is all about. This is my humble attempt to teach you, my girls.<br />
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Easter is about being saved. A re-birth, an awakening.<br />
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<i>"You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. Just think about the way Jesus honours you... and smile." Max Lucado</i><br />
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A seed dies in the fall and winter...<br />
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... only to grow into a beautiful flower in the spring and summer.<br />
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So, what does all this have to do with us, here and now? Why do we need to be saved? Why did Jesus die over 2000 years ago for us to be saved?<br />
If we need to be saved or go through a process of re-birth, that must mean there's death somewhere in our lives. Maybe not externally but internally.<br />
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"I'm a good person... I try to live a good life... I don't murder... I try not to lie... I don't cheat anyone... I have never committed adultery... I don't sin... I never fight with my sister... What are you talking about?"<br />
Sin, it's such a religious word. I'm with you there... I'm the first to roll my eyes at religious words. You know the ones; Sin, Salvation, Atonement and Resurrection. Those words have given me the willies in the past, only because I didn't really understand what those words meant. I've done a little investigating and I've been looking into the history of what these words meant in their original Hebrew and Greek words.<br />
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Did you know that the word atonement was made up in 1526 by the English writer William Tyndale when he was translating the New Testament into English. There was no English word to replace the old Greek word of katallage (kat-al-lag-ay) which means restoration to the divine or reconciliation. So William made up AT-ONE-MENT.<br />
So why do we need to be restored or reconciled? Sin.<br />
So what's sin? I looked it up in Strong's Concordance. You know there are 11 Hebrew words for sin? The two most popular words used in the Old Testament are <i>chattaah (khat-taw-aw)</i> which means an offense and<i> chata (khaw-taw)</i> which means to miss, lead astray or offend. The Greek words in the New Testament are<i> hamatia (ham-ar-tee-ah)</i> which means missing the mark or a concrete wrongdoing and <i>hamartano (ham-ar-tan-o)</i> which means miss the mark (not share in the prize), and offend.<br />
So what have we been doing wrong, to offend God? Alister E. McGrath says in his book, 'Theology: The Basics'.<br />
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<i>"What is sin? Although in everyday language the word "sin" means something like "a moral failing" or "an immoral act," the term has a more precise theological meaning. The fundamental sense of "sin" is something that separates humanity from God." </i><br />
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I like how he breaks "sin" down into these 6 categories: Alienation, Captivity, Guilt, Condemnation, Illness and Being lost. Let's take a closer look?<br />
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1) <i>Alienation</i> - Isolation, a loneliness of not fitting in or belonging. I know I have felt this many times in the coarse of my life. Have you felt alienated?<br />
2) <i>Captivity</i> - Addiction to drugs, alcohol, food, T.V, junk food, horses, work, fear or anything that takes precedence over the people that really matter in your life. Fear has controlled me too many times in my life and worrying about what other people think of me has held me captive. How about you?<br />
3) <i>Guilt</i> - I think every human has felt guilt at one time or another. An unkind word spoken through gossip? or irritation and anger? A lie. A fight over chocolate poop? Have you ever felt guilt?<br />
4) <i>Condemnation</i> - Have you ever felt judged? People looking down their noses at you because you did something they didn't approve? Their way doesn't necessarily mean your way was wrong... just wrong in their eyes. Have you ever been the one to judge someone? Looking down your nose and disapproving an action? Guilty as charged... I have judged. How about you?<br />
5)<i> Illness</i> - I have let stress and fear make me ill. How about you?<br />
6) <i>Being lost</i> - I have been so confused, not knowing what to do, what to believe, and who to trust. I have been hurt because I've trusted the wrong people with my deepest feelings. Because of this confusion, I chose isolation in the past and that brings us back to #1 - Alienation.<br />
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If you have said yes to just one of the above, you have been separate from God. The above can also separate us from one and other. Don't feel bad for too long though... you see... to go along with the religious word of "sin" there's another religious word to counter it, "salvation". Now, before you get your knickers in a knot, lets take a look at what this word means.<br />
The 3 most popular Hebrew words used in the Old Testament are:<br />
1) <i>Yshuwah (yesh-oo-aw)</i> - something saved, deliverance, help.<br />
2) <i>Yesha (yay-shah)</i> - liberty, deliverance, saving.<br />
3) <i>Tshuwah (tesh-oo-aw)</i> - rescue, deliverance, help, victory.<br />
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I don't know if it's just me, but do the Hebrew words for deliverance look very close to the Hebrew words for God (Yahweh and Yhovah)? Could the root words for God mean deliverer, rescuer, helper? Certainly is something to look into?<br />
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<i>"So how does this connection between sin and salvation show itself in the person of Jesus Christ, as saviour of humanity? .... Salvation is the breaking down of the barrier of separation between humanity and God..." Alister E. McGrath</i><br />
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Sin is death (like the seeds in winter), Salvation is a re-birth (like the flowers in spring), it means reconciliation for the alienated, liberation for the captive, forgiveness for the guilty, vindication for the condemned, healing for the ill and being found for the lost. God wants us to have a healthy relationship with each other as well and with him. That's why he came here 2000 years ago. That's why he died on a cross and 3 days later he rose again. He defeated death (or sin), and He did it to save his creation from alienation, captivity, guilt, condemnation, illness and being lost.<br />
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God has done His part... now we have to do ours...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just believe it!</span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to:</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- </i>Garborg's "Light for the path" flip calendar - copyright 2001for the Max Lucado quote.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- Hard Rock Hide Out:<a href="http://hardrockhideout.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/evil_easter_bunny.jpg"> Image of Easter bunny slipper</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- <a href="http://ga-soft.ru/indigo?5">Sunflower seeds Image: http://ga-soft.ru/indigo?5</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- Alister E. McGrath "Theology: the basics" - copyright 2012 Blackwell Publishers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- James Strong "The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance" - copyright 2010 Thomas Nelson Publishers</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-35047450458215967492012-02-21T23:43:00.000-08:002012-02-21T23:43:41.978-08:00Angels do fall sometimes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I don't know what happened?... It just exploded"</td></tr>
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Part Two of the 'Cat Man and Dog Woman' Saga</div>
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For those who have not yet read Part One, here is the link: <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2012/02/finding-perfect-dog.html">Finding the Perfect Dog</a></div>
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Hey my Beauties,</div>
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I had such a lovely morning the other day when you, Nena, took me out for a cup of coffee. I know... I paid, but that doesn't matter... it's the thought that counts. You'll be paying in a few years, when you have a job.</div>
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"So, what should I write in my next blog?" I asked. Here was your reply:</div>
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"Remember Angel's first day with us, and I slipped and fell in her pee?"</div>
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"Yeah." I replied.</div>
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"Then... remember when I went upstairs to change my clothes and take a bath?"</div>
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"Yeah."</div>
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"And I stepped in a pile a of poo behind my bed?"</div>
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"Yeah."</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_15_1329884442967308" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
"Well... it was then, that I decided to follow in my father's footsteps, and became... Cat Girl."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nena, Yoda and Pharaoh</td></tr>
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And this came from the daughter who named the dog Angel. The girls did try to teach the dog to use the litter box over the next few weeks, and the dog got pretty close to it. In the months following, whenever Angel would have an accident, the mess would be right beside the litter box. Don't know how she did it? Maybe because the dog was an Angel inside and out.</div>
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"We can call her Dog... no... how about Mutt?" your dad muttered, as he cleaned up his car tools that day when Angel first arrived.</div>
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"I know... we can call her God," he said, "that's dog backwards...that way I can finally walk with God."</div>
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Well, he may not be walking with God, but he does have an Angel by his side.<br />
"She's a mostly good dog," Rene concluded after a year, but he would not yet declare it publicly. He had to acknowledge the truth though, because she always came when called, she never left his side (or at least didn't wander too far away), she sat at command, stayed at command, she never chewed shoes and, dropped the ball at our feet. Angel is so tuned in and focused on us, as Pack Leader's, it's almost as if she knows what we're thinking at times. It's kinda weird actually.<br />
"What a well behaved dog." Strangers have come up to us to tell us how well behaved our dog is.<br />
Let me tell you, no amount of research could have lead me to such an amazing, perfect dog. Remember we didn't pick her, she came to us. Now, I know we did have a part in her training and discipline, and I will be forever grateful to Cesar Milan, and his books... that we devoured... and... well...the dog devoured.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Angel Dog</td></tr>
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You know, she's a really great dog... and she never chewed on our shoes... but... for some odd reason... she loved to chew on books. Not just any books either. She chomped on 'Scooby Doo', gnawed on 'The Dog Whisperer', munched on 'Philosophy for Dummies' and just ingested Nicky Gimbels '<a href="http://www.alphacanada.org/">The Alpha Course</a>'. Maybe, that's why she's such an Angel?<br />
Yes, Angel has chewed books, she had stolen a hot dog out of someones hands (he shouldn't have been waving his hands about like an Italian, in conversation) and, she has run off once. May I say something in her defence? It was after a deer and he was drinking salt water by the coast at Miracle Beach Provincial Park. Really... why was a deer drinking salt water? And there was the time we left the dog in the car for 10 minutes with 8 small home made pizza's; we were bringing to Tante Bina and Uncle Jeff's for dinner. There were six and a half left, when we returned. It was our own fault. We left her alone with her favourite food... It was too much of a temptation... She's only human, after all... I mean a dog, after all. Okay... Okay... Angels do fall sometimes... but so do we.<br />
When I've made a mistake and I've fallen, I will appreciate the person who helps me off the dirt floor more than the one who judges me legalistically and kicks more dirt into my face. Many people judge and discourage when someone is down, even I, Dog Woman, have been convicted of this crime.<br />
Here's the thing... <i>In Matthew 18:21 -22 Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how many times must I forgive someone? Should I forgive him as many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, you must forgive him even if he wrongs you seventy times seven."</i> So, God has forgiven me for discouraging someone who was down and out, and... He doesn't want me to judge either. <br />
<i>Love each other as I have loved you. </i><br />
This is what he asks us to do.<br />
<i>"If someone in your group does something wrong.... you should go to that person and gently help make him right again... By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself. Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done..... We must not become tired of doing good.... When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it."</i><br />
<i>Galatians 6: verse 1 thru to 10 NCV</i><br />
So, doG (read it backwards) wants us to encourage and lift each other up, and guess what goD (read it backwards) does when we come home? I know, at least for me, when Angel comes to greet me at the door she is always happy to see me (even when I've left her for a few hours - she forgives easily).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZSfVjqDzZuCG-P6qAGeYojfHaBlbkHVl9LHqfuRDArFypTvY4BP3Dh_NGKUlMrmsNaauoc_EJ51EPc1WuH84Xfq2ZckWtt-S74yy2XqAO7dovglyptjQ6GhrIO9tIwMoGEDAbTwLz0F/s1600/DSCF0913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HZSfVjqDzZuCG-P6qAGeYojfHaBlbkHVl9LHqfuRDArFypTvY4BP3Dh_NGKUlMrmsNaauoc_EJ51EPc1WuH84Xfq2ZckWtt-S74yy2XqAO7dovglyptjQ6GhrIO9tIwMoGEDAbTwLz0F/s320/DSCF0913.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alora and Angel</td></tr>
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I have never been greeted with such encouragement, love and devotion by anyone, the way she welcomes me. She has never judged me, or kicked me when I'm down, on the contrary, she hugs and kisses when I'm feeling blue. Unlike the cats, who ignore me or tell me to buck up, stop feeling sorry for myself, and get them some food.<br />
"You know Mom," Nena said as she sipped her white hot chocolate the other morning, "When a cat brings you a dead mouse or bird to your door... it's not a present... it's a warning."<br />
"It's a good thing you and your dad haven't brought home any dead animals yet." I smiled and thought of my perfect dog, who would never do such a thing.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Is Cat Man really a closet dog lover? And does Yoda defect to the 'dogside' of the force?... I mean the family? Find out these things and more, in the next segment of 'Cat Man and Dog Woman' Part Three.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Thanks to You Tube and Wendy J Francisco with God and Dog song video*</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-11576193189690945722012-02-17T22:32:00.000-08:002012-02-17T23:01:49.257-08:00Finding The Perfect Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel our dog</td></tr>
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Hey my Beauties,<br />
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Angel is an amazing dog. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives. When she first arrived at our door step it was a bit touch and go, but over the years she has proven herself worthy to live in a Cat lover's house.<br />
"I don't do dogs!" that came from your dad the first week she was dropped off at our doorstep. You see, he never grew up with dogs only cats as pets, and the only experience he did have with a dog, was Sasha; when she lived with us for a few weeks until Tante Bina found a dog friendly apartment.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha sitting on top of your Tante Tasha and Tante Bina</td></tr>
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Sasha, was as well behaved as Marley (from the movie '<a href="http://youtu.be/0UMMGNxg1Lg">Marley and Me</a>'). She was as undisciplined and dense as him as well, and she looked just like him. In looks and actions, they could have been twins, (you know she actually jumped out of a moving car like Marley too). Okay, she was a little stupid and uncontrolled, so I could see why your dad didn't want a dog if she was his only experience to base an opinion on. I on the other hand, came from a home where we had both cats and dogs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherry(the dog lying down), Sherry's friend (forget his name)<br />
Tante Bina and Oma and Opa</td></tr>
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Sherry was my family' Irish Setter when I was a child. She was beautiful and smart and loving. You know, she waited every day for us at the top of the stairs, by the front door, when we returned from school at 3pm. She was a good dog. At least from what I remember as a child (you would have to talk to your Opa and Oma for more details).<br />
I loved hugging her. I loved telling her all my problems, because she really listened. No judgements... just love. I wanted that experience for you as well. So I went on the hunt for the perfect dog. At least the perfect dog for our family.<br />
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What does the perfect dog look like? I had no idea. So I did some research...<br />
It took me 2 years. TWO YEARS? Yes, 2 years... Why?...because I wanted to make sure we had the perfect dog for Cat Man.<br />
Your father and I made a list:<br />
- No hyper dog.<br />
- No Labrador Retriever<br />
- A dog that can sit in a canoe calmly.<br />
- Must like swimming.<br />
- Must listen well ("I don't want to be one of those crazy loud owners yelling and chasing after the dog!" that was one of your dads prerequisites).<br />
- Medium to large size dog ("I don't want a small yippee dog that gets carried around in a purse!" My prerequisite).<br />
- Must like Cats!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beau</td></tr>
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Our Dog of choice narrowed down to two options, a Golden Retriever and a Newfoundlander. Since a retriever can still be a little hyper, we opted for the Newfie. Besides, my cousin Ellen had a Newfie named Beau and he was the sweetest and most behaved dog I knew.<br />
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"$1800!" that was the going price from a reputable breeder.<br />
"Forget it," your father said to me, "we don't have that kind of money for a dog." But, I couldn't forget it... You see... I love dogs. So I looked on line for a cheaper Newfie.<br />
"Here I found one for $800 dollars," I said to your dad one night after 2 hours of searching. We called the number. It was for a 3 month old Newfie puppy and we would have to pick it up at the Metro Town Mall parking garage out of the back of a truck the following Saturday. Can you say Puppy Mill? Needless to say, we opted out of that option as well.<br />
So, I went back on line and checked out the S.P.C.A. It took a few months to find 3 year old, Obi, a Newfoundlander cross with Chow Chow in Vancouver. He looked so cute and fluffy. It was meant to be, I figured, because we already had a cat named Yoda. He had just arrived from a reservation in the Bella Coola area. We have no pictures of him because he only lasted two weeks. He was the opposite of everything on our list except the big dog part.<br />
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"I'm not saying this in a hurtful way Anuschka, but I'm your friend," Krista began one morning as I attempted to walk Obi beside her. He was bouncing around and pulling me along. He was too strong and hard to hold on to.<br />
"He seems <b>too</b> much dog for you guys... if there is such a thing? Do you get what I'm saying?" I did get it... I did feel it, but I didn't want to own up to it. I didn't want to give up on him, because so many people already had. What would happen to him if I give up? Then the unthinkable happened... he ran away.<br />
"I swear Anuschka, it's the dog or me... I mean it! Take him back!" your dad said to me after spending a half an hour yelling and chasing after Obi, who had run off after some bikes on the dyke.<br />
"Well?" he asked. I guess I had paused too long.<br />
"Okay...I know... I will."<br />
"I'm a cat person honey." he stated, "I just can't do dogs... I'm sorry." Reluctantly, with tears in my eyes I drove Obi back to the shelter, because Krista was right, he was too much dog for us.<br />
As I drove the hour back into downtown Vancouver, I cried, "You know how much I love dogs," I blubbered to God, "I spent 2 Years! 2 Years... Waisted time!... For NOTHING! Now I don't have a dog and I never will." I was feeling quite sorry for myself. Eventually, I did realized that it was the best decision. He was not the dog for us. But because of my inability to find the perfect dog... I now had missed the opportunity to get one. Cat Man had closed the door.<br />
You see, I had tried to do it all myself. I mean, for the past 2 years I had done all the work and all the research. I never once let anyone help. I never once asked God for help. I had relied fully on me.<br />
"Okay... so it's no dog for us... if that is Your will God, and Rene's. I will have to be okay with it," and I really did, totally let it go. Honest truth.<br />
When I got back, your dad gave me a big hug.<br />
"No hard feelings?"<br />
"No... I'm okay with the decision... It was the right thing to do," and I really meant it. Honest. Besides, I love your dad more than I love dogs.<br />
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A few days later Angel arrived on our door step, hand delivered... right to the front door.<br />
I had forgotten about the conversation I had had with the neighbour a couple weeks earlier. He had just received a $20 dollar dog off a farm in the 100 Mile House area. At the time, I was frustrated with the Newfie development and disappointed with how much they cost, when I asked him if they had any more $20 dogs left. Oooopppsss... My bad...<br />
"Your dog has grown." Rene said to the neighbour, who had come up behind him one day in May 2007, as he was fixing the brakes on our VW Van.<br />
"No... this is your dog." the neighbour smiled,<br />
"What...my dog?"<br />
"Didn't Anuschka tell you?" he said as he handed over the dog to Rene. "My Misty is in the house. This one's yours. Anuschka asked for one a few weeks ago."<br />
"ANUSCHKA!" your dad yelled. He was quite unhappy with me. For a moment, he sounded just like my dad, when I was a kid and late for supper.<br />
I found him outside, beside the Van with a cutsie little puppy in his greasy hands.<br />
"Ohhhh, has Misty gotten bigger?" I cooed and picked up the neighbours dog out of your father's arms.<br />
"No..." he paused and cleared his throat, "apparently this is our dog." Daggers flew out of Cat Man's eyes and steam out the ears. I heard a low-pitched 'grrrr' deep within him... and he wasn't purring. He was ready to spit and hiss at me at any moment. I backed away.<br />
"Really?" I said happy-go-lucky, "Cool!" Then I smiled and cuddled my puppy.<br />
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Stay Tuned for Part Two "Angels Do Fall Sometimes"... Can Cat Man and Dog Woman co-habitat?<br />
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Love You<br />
Mom (aka Dog Woman)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-55144551640598935442012-02-16T09:00:00.000-08:002012-02-16T09:00:06.494-08:00Clear Creek - Do you hear what I'm saying?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Creek</td></tr>
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Hey my Beauties,<br />
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A few weekends ago we attempted a trip to <a href="http://wildwestdiaries.blogspot.com/2010/01/clear-creek-hot-springs.html">Clear Creek Hot Springs</a>. We've been there a couple of times now and we've always managed to make it all the way (except when we owned the diesel van, Vanny - it didn't have enough power to make it up the rock scree).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up the Clear Creek FS Road</td></tr>
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But we were in Dusty now (Toyota 4 Runner) and it has always made it where we have aimed the steering wheel, until now. Not because it wasn't capable (although there was a lot of snow up there and it was one of the deciding factors to turning around), but the main cause was a communication problem.<br />
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Miscommunication happens so easily, and will happen a lot in your life. In the words we say, in the words we write, or in our body language; people will either interpret what you say incorrectly, or you will not be clear in the way you communicate. It's a part of life.<br />
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So why didn't we make it to the hot springs? Panic and a failure to communicate our feelings clearly to one and other. Yes, there were some tough spots, like sliding backwards towards a cliff, but your dad knew what he was doing. We just didn't trust his judgement and instead of talking to him about how you were feeling you panicked. And the tears didn't help either.<br />
"Stop the car!"I huffed upset, trying to stay calm in the chaos, "Girls OUT!" Hysterics set in and I knew I had to get the two of you out of the car and fast. No one could think properly in the frenzy you were making and I wanted your dad to have the opportunity to think clearly on that high mountain road.<br />
So... I removed you from the vehicle. I should have told your dad what I was doing. My words and actions made him think that I was afraid as well, and that I didn't trust him. That's why he turned the car around 6km away from the hot springs.<br />
In stressful situations our panic makes things worse for all concerned. Calmly, we need to talk about the situation and tell each other what's going on inside our heads, so we can make the best decision on what course of action works the best for all concerned. Turning around was the best decision in this situation. Your father heard you loud and clear, "Get me off this mountain!... I want to go down."<br />
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We went back down to Silver Creek, had a campfire and roasted hot dogs. And all was well again.<br />
<br />
We are communicating all the time with our words, eyes, faces, bodies and attitudes. How do we communicate well with one and other? Now, I'm no expert and I still have a lot to learn, but I'd like to share with you some of the things I've learned along the way.<br />
1. Watch - people's body language will tell you a lot.<br />
2. Listen - just stop talking for a while and listen and hear.<br />
3. Take time to respond - take time to formulate what you want to say, go over it in your mind before it come out of your mouth. Ask yourself, "is it clear?"<br />
4. Ask people the question, "Is this what you meant?" and repeat what they've just said. That way if you've misunderstood, they have another chance to relay the message more clearly.<br />
<br />
If our body language says one thing but our words say another, guess what happens? Miscommunication. If we don't speak the same language and use the wrong words in a sentence, what happens? Miscommunication. If our hearing is impaired or we aren't paying attention, what happens?...<br />
<br />
<i>"Goodnight sweetie." I said, and kissed you, and tucked you into bed tonight.</i><br />
<i>"Can you snuggle?" You looked pretty darn cute when you said it, but I had work to do.</i><br />
<i>"I'm going to write a blog." I answered. You looked confused.</i><br />
<i>"You're going to walk the dog?"</i><br />
<br />
Miscommunication.<br />
<br />
"<i>...we are all human. We make mistakes. We're vulnerable. We're not perfect. The thing that interferes most with communications, at times, is our attempt to prove that we're not vulnerable - to keep a stiff upper lip or to appear macho in the face of imagined attacks... After all, most people are just like you. They're human. They care. They're sympathetic. They're supportive. People want you to succeed. Show them that you care about them... An awareness of your own vulnerability and the vulnerability of others will make you a better and more human communicator." Roger Ailes from 'You are the Message - Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are'</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Love You!<br />
MOMUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-49490617408214030292012-02-14T12:42:00.000-08:002012-02-14T12:42:56.550-08:00LoveHey my Beauties,<br />
<br />
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LOVE has been on my mind the past few days. Maybe because it's valentines day... maybe not. I just want you guys to know what love means. Real love, not the fake marketing kind. So, I've spent the last few days trying to define love for you, not that it can be defined. This is my meagre attempt to describe what real love is. The way I feel love for you.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The English Dictionary's definition of the word LOVE:</b></i><br />
1. an intence feeling of deep affection<br />
2. a deep romantic, sexual feeling for someone<br />
3. a personified figure of love, example cupid<br />
4. a great interest or pleasure in something or someone<br />
5. affectionate greetings conveyed on one's behalf<br />
6. a formula for ending an affectionate letter<br />
7. a person or thing that one loves<br />
8. a friendly form of adress (that's okay, love)<br />
9. used to express affectionate approval for someone (don't fret, there's a love)<br />
10. a score (in tennis, squash)<br />
<br />
Ah, LOVE... so many different meaning for the same word... it can be terribly confusing, especially for someone who has not grown-up in an english speaking country.<br />
<br />
"I LOVE you." Now, as your Mom, this doesn't mean I'm winning a tennis match with you. It doesn't mean I'm cupid or affectionally greeting you. It means so much more than all of the above to me. In my great desire to tell you what it does mean to me, I did a little research to try to find the right words. So, I googled the word LOVE, and this is what came up:<br />
- <a href="http://www.lovecalculator.com/">Love Calculator</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.lovepoemsandquotes.com/">Love Poems and Quotes</a><br />
- The love magazine (naked ladies kissing eachother - YUCK! That's why I didn't link it)<br />
These were the top three listed sites for the word LOVE... Wow! If I had to define LOVE by my google research I'd get even more confused. Then I remembered that God is love. So, I went to the Bible and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong's_Concordance">Strongs concordance of the Bible</a>. In hopes to find the words I was looking for.<br />
Strongs Concordance is like a dictionary of sorts, where the english words are translated into the original Hebrew and Greek. Under the English word LOVE, there were 2 pages of the different scripture uses for this word (I guess LOVE is popular in the Bible). There were 7 different Hebrew words used for the english word of LOVE in the Old Testament and 11 different Greek words used in the New Testament. Do you know what that means? There are 7 Hebrew words used where the english have only one word, and 11 Greek words ,where we have only one word for LOVE. That amazed me, so I dug a little deeper and found all 18 words and the definitions for each.<br />
<br />
<b>Here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coles_Notes">Coles notes</a> version:</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Hebrew LOVE words:</i></b><br />
1. ahab (aw-heb) - to have affection for; strong emotional attachment to<br />
2. ahabah (a-hab-aw) - means several different kinds of love, love between man and wife, sexual activity, love between friends, love to God.<br />
3. dowd or dod (dode) - to love by giving a token to a lover or a friend.<br />
4. agab or egab (eh-gheb) - to breathe after, much love for, to love sensually, very lovely<br />
5. agabah (ag-aw-baw) - amourousness - inordinate love<br />
6. racham (raw-kham) - to have compassion for, mercy for, love for God, how God loves us in his promise to us.<br />
7. rayah (rah-yaw) - a beloved companion, bride<br />
<br />
<b><i>Greek LOVE words:</i></b><br />
1. agapao (ag-ap-ah-o)- to love in a social or moral sense<br />
2. agape (ag-ah-pay) - love that can be known only from the action it prompts (diliberate love in action)<br />
3. thelo (thel-o) - to determine an act, to will, to wish, intend<br />
4. koilia (kay-lee-ah) - the heart, the womb, the inner most part of man, seat of thought, the soul<br />
5. philadelphia (fil-ad-el-fee-ah) - brotherly love, kindness, love of the people around you<br />
6. philadelphos (fil-ad-el-fos) - love of brethren(friend and family), love as brethren<br />
7. philandros (fil-an-dros) - fond of man, affectionate as a wife loves her husband<br />
8. philanthropia (fil-an-thro-pee-ah) - fondness of mankind, kindness, love towards man<br />
9. philarguria (fil-ar-goo-ree-ah) - love of money<br />
10. philoteknos (fil-ot-ek-nos) - fond of one's children<br />
11. phileo (fil-eh-o) - to be a friend to, have affection for<br />
<br />
A little different from the English definition huh?<br />
<br />
How do I LOVE you? One word isn't enough for me.<br />
<br />
I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">ahab ( a strong emotional attachment to you), ahabag (love as your friend), dowd (love by giving to you), agab/egab (much love for you), racham (love through compassion for you), agapao (love you because I'm your parent and I socially and morally need to), agape (love you in action), thelo (I am determined to love you even when you don't want me to or when you've hurt me), koilia (I love you from the inner most part of me, deeply), philadelphia and philadelphos (love in kindness for you are my family), philoteknos (fondness of you because you are my children), and phileo (affection for you because I am your friend)</span> you!<br />
<br />
<i>Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count the wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. </i><b><i>Love never ends.</i> </b>1 Corinthians 13: 4-8<br />
<br />
Philoteknos,<br />
Your Mom<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-49813128178816141632012-02-08T20:59:00.000-08:002012-02-08T20:59:37.213-08:00The Ugly Sweater<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLjF3s92-3x306E9FZX9cyZRenOPxH8uKlrsAB0LzvgxW2eua6crVMW-utjt3mWjKQ2WIwViX7Xj2SaUmUQ-79_4oWpOg1bHBQYK5QtDekEahaCmc-MyGcnGcRd6kqAtgRWYcpnjQCoNM/s1600/DSCF2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLjF3s92-3x306E9FZX9cyZRenOPxH8uKlrsAB0LzvgxW2eua6crVMW-utjt3mWjKQ2WIwViX7Xj2SaUmUQ-79_4oWpOg1bHBQYK5QtDekEahaCmc-MyGcnGcRd6kqAtgRWYcpnjQCoNM/s320/DSCF2315.JPG" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugly sweater as per Oma</td></tr>
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Hey my Beauties,<br />
<br />
Mom's can be irritating. Great topic you say? I know, one day you will feel this way about me, maybe you already do? Just to let you know... kids can be irritating too. But, that's for another blog, today I want to talk to you about annoying Moms.<br />
Mom's protect their children at all costs to make sure their offspring are safe. Mom's are going to teach you what they know, some good, some bad, (the rest you'll have to figure out on your own). Mom's are going to love you no matter what. Unconditional, it's a part of who we are. Mom's are also blunt enough to tell you when they find the sweater you're wearing is ugly. Like last weekend.<br />
"That...that...sweater darling," your Oma began last Sunday. She shook her head repulsed by what she saw, "It's not a nice look... not flattering at all." It began innocent enough, but then it got down right disagreeable. "Where ever did you buy that thing? That sweater wouldn't look good on anyone... you should give it away... not to someone you like... no... you should wash the toilet with it." That's when she went upstairs to get something.<br />
Talk about being honest. Tante Bina couldn't believe that your Oma was being so candid with me, but then again she didn't know about the time your grandmother brought over a box of highlight's for my hair (a subtle hint to spruce myself up a bit). I had gone back to my natural hair colour two weeks before because my hair was falling out and I couldn't afford colouring it every month, that left me with real ugly roots for a couple of weeks. I hated that, so I went from being a blonde back to brunette (as a blonde I really didn't have more fun anyway, as the expression says). I think she understood after I explained it to her, at least she never approached the subject again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New and improved sweater as per Oma</td></tr>
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After a few minutes, she came downstairs with a new and improved sweater right out of her closet, because that's what Moms do when their children are wearing ugly clothes, they give you the clothes right off their backs (or at least out of their closets).<br />
It was a little irritating, but we had a lot of fun that afternoon, we laughed a lot. Truthfully, I'm glad I have a Mom who tells me that I'm wearing an ugly sweater, and most importantly, a Mom who tells me when I'm wearing an ugly attitude. Because... that's what Mom's do to help their children grow.<br />
<br />
So what do I do with the ugly sweater girls?<br />
<br />
"Give it to Oma as a joke."<br />
"Ya, tell her you saw it at a thrift store and thought of her."<br />
"Ya, then tell her you only washed the toilet with it once."<br />
LOL!<br />
<br />
Ooooppps! What have I been teaching you?<br />
<br />
Love You<br />
Mom<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-2743571387098634992012-01-27T16:02:00.000-08:002012-03-15T08:53:12.493-07:00Burqas For Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey my Beauties,<br />
<br />
Maybe I should have picked a blue coloured burqa instead of the antique pink one for your dad? He loves pink so much... Not! (See <a href="http://deedsforneeds.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-pink-pink-too-much-estrogen.html">Pink + Pink + Pink = Too Much Estrogen</a>).<br />
Truthfully, I don't even know where to begin with this entry. You see I don't want to end up on anyone's 'hit' list, and I don't mean the top 20 songs list.<br />
"Men should wear burqas," this was the discussion at the dinner table the other night, "so they can see what it feels like!" Kalina, you had read <a href="http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Breadwinner.html?id=_fUA8BmYYEoC&redir_esc=y">The Bread Winner by Deborah Ellis</a> at school, and because you have such a deep organic understanding of right and wrong, you could see what burqas do to suppress the women of this world and I was amazed and so proud to be your Mom at that moment. Girls, you are learning so much these days, even about very controversial issues on suppressing a humans right to freedom. It comes in all forms, burqa's is just one of many.<br />
My wish for you is to continue to see the injustices of this world, but use your wisdom to educate (like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Ellis">Deborah Ellis</a> has in written word). Using anger to retaliate is a sign of weakness not strength. Making men wear burqa's would be kinda funny, but it would'nt solve the issue of supressing ones freedom. Education! Education! Education is the answer. (So, going to university is important, LOL! Just putting it out there).<br />
<br />
I love you<br />
Mom<br />
<br />
To read more about 'The Bread Winner' by Deborah Ellis see <a href="http://www.scholastic.ca/clubs/activities/images/breadwinner_t.pdf">http://www.scholastic.ca/clubs/activities/images/breadwinner_t.pdf</a><br />
<br />
Here's a movie Called "The Canvas Prison" for those interested.<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-6038805486091823192012-01-25T08:31:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:31:28.853-08:00Who's Tracks Do You Follow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPeisBB-8tUbUSPRns7TA-avBImxuo_NA3r_1mti-r14xqDEZE-P3vdUnZ0HLlqfHMzCA1zQiiFd6m7gxpntuk39UBjJJ9KeNehoCinwn4plWIx89JmUZEEk0DwkZQlSwwUG-U9aWNgg0/s1600/DSCF2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPeisBB-8tUbUSPRns7TA-avBImxuo_NA3r_1mti-r14xqDEZE-P3vdUnZ0HLlqfHMzCA1zQiiFd6m7gxpntuk39UBjJJ9KeNehoCinwn4plWIx89JmUZEEk0DwkZQlSwwUG-U9aWNgg0/s320/DSCF2240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Hey my Beauties,<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed playing with you guys in the snow last week. It was great! I remember when I was a kid back in Ontario pretending to be an artic adventurer on a quest to find something, can't remember what, just that it was important for a 8 year old. My sisters and I would dig deep tunnels into the snow banks after the plow came around and these would be our igloos to protect us from the elements and enemies (boys). We would have at least 3 dozen snowballs, ready at hand, if one walked by.<br />
Sometimes, when there was a snow storm, the snow would accumulate so high that it was about waist deep (for a 8 year old) and yes, I did have to walk to school, but not bare foot both ways up hill. We only lived about 3 blocks from the elementary school and in these times of deep snow, I remember my dad walking ahead of us forging a path for us to follow. Whenever I veered off course, the snow was too deep and although it was fun for a while to roll about in the snow I fell behind the troop, utterly exausted; it was hard work for my little legs. When I stumbled back on to my fathers path I was able to catch up and the way was a lot easier. Not that I was excited about the final destination (school). Maybe that's why I tumbled off the beaten path often and was late? LOL!<br />
<br />
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As you grow older, you are going to have a lot of questions about God, Faith and Jesus. When you ask these questions you will get a lot of different answers from a lot of different people who believe in a lot of different things. You may even question the existence of God? There's a lot of different idea's floating around out there and you may find yourself more confused than when you first started asking the questions. When you get to this point, you need to find yourself some stable ground before you sink into a deep icy crevasse.<br />
I believe God sent Jesus to forage a path for us to follow, making life just a little bit easier when we follow and obey His insights, when we follow in his tracks. Just like my sisters and I did when we followed my dad in the deep snow.<br />
When we veer off track, it maybe fun for a little while but we become easily exausted and get stuck in a deeply disoriented place full of the worlds confusion. When I follow His path, I can still ask the questions... and anyone who says he/she is following God and doesn't allow you to ask questions is really following their own legalistic path not Gods, don't follow someone elses messy path. Not mine, not your father's, not your sister's or friends. Follow Jesus and ask the questions. He will answer. He is the way, the truth and the light.<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>"I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives light." John 8:12</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>"If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>"I tell you the truth, whoever obeys my teaching will never die." John 8:51</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Besides... the destination is kinda cool.<br />
<br />
I love you!<br />
MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-26486321846090267312012-01-21T12:51:00.000-08:002012-01-21T12:51:12.758-08:00GripOns - Snow Tires For Your FeetHey My Beauties,<br />
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Looks like a Winter's Wonderland outside... Not bad for the Wild West Coast (or should I say Wild Wet Coast). I've seen a couple of neighbours putting their Christmas lights back up this week. Looks pretty in the snow. Although it's been pretty cold and icy this week, that Artic Air Flow didn't last very long heh? It's raining again...<br />
"Poo...Poo." I know you're saying. I know you want more snow. Every kid loves the snow, but I want you to know that not every adult hates it. I'm one of those adults who like snow (not for too long though). I love the crispness in the air, the white clean snow, the quiet when snow is falling, but I don't like the ice.<br />
Last Monday, as I walked Angel, I found myself flat out on my derriere. I was walking gingerly over some crunchy ice and snow and the next minute, "BOOM!" I was down.<br />
Now, if I was 20 years younger, I probably would have got up immediately, but I'm not 26 anymore and I found myself sitting there for a few minutes dazed and confused.<br />
You see at 406...I mean 46... my brain takes a little more time to process 'what the heck happened' and then it needed to process what body parts were still working and what needed help. So after a few minutes making sure everything still worked (plus the realization that my bum was getting cold), I slowly got up and thanked God I wasn't 86.<br />
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When I told your father what happened he went out and bought me some Dakota GripOns to put over my boot. That's the one of the many things I love about your dad, he is always making sure his family is safe.<br />
Well, let me tell you... those grippy things really work. This past week walking on the ice was great. Each step I took was solid and sturdy and it gave me confidence. I began to throw caution to the wind and I even ran a few steps on the driveway ice rink.<br />
"This is great!" With no more fear of falling down I power walked the dog around the block.<br />
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Ice is not the only thing that's going to make you fall in life. Someone we love says or does something that hurts our feelings; in anger someone we trust lashes out; circumstances seem negative around us and people we love get sick and die.<br />
Physically, mentally and spiritually we need GripOns to help us get through life. Keep us sturdy and to walk with confidence through the icy conditions life throws at us. Good friends to trust and talk to who keep us accountable with the actions and choices we make, loving mentors that hold us when we need a hug and a shoulder to cry on, but also let us go to explore and learn, and the knowledge that someone (no matter what we've done or bad choices we've made) loves us as we are.<br />
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By the time you actually read this blog, I'll probably be 86.<br />
Can you do something for me girls? Bring two pairs of Dakota GripOns to the nursing home where your father and I are living. The one I have now will probably be worn out and I'd rather not fall and break a hip.<br />
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I love you!<br />
MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-36318160338142036022012-01-09T14:08:00.000-08:002012-01-09T14:08:24.265-08:00Shaping What We Think<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB32NktZnmOZSvlmriuEYX0VbKoeNekRfliBzym9unSmRGF_lo8MLLiRiWv5T4CrcPRYHaumyZ8IdTHZRe39Ra_CFv_o3rrjMZD7wx8upH6lGkYUKI994_uTFvY70oU6A1yw-ZkpsVtJB/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-21+at+19.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB32NktZnmOZSvlmriuEYX0VbKoeNekRfliBzym9unSmRGF_lo8MLLiRiWv5T4CrcPRYHaumyZ8IdTHZRe39Ra_CFv_o3rrjMZD7wx8upH6lGkYUKI994_uTFvY70oU6A1yw-ZkpsVtJB/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-21+at+19.50.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>How we think about our situation will usually end up shaping what we think about it. </i><br />
<i>Daniel A. Brown</i><br />
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Positive or Negative...<br />
I know you've heard this many times before beauties... but I have to say it again. This is one life lesson you need to '<i>get'</i> before you go out into the world.<br />
Attitude is everything.<br />
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"I can't do it."<br />
"This is too hard."<br />
"I'll never make it."<br />
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All negative attitudes. It won't get you very far in life.<br />
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<i>"The pessimist's cup is half empty, the optimist's is half full, but the Christian's cup should always be full and running over." Rob Buzza</i><br />
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That was the lesson last Sunday at church. I though being an optimist was good enough, but it's not. The optimist may think his cup is 1/2 full but we still hold onto the liquid that's left and we don't give any of it away.<br />
"Keep it, just in case. You never know when you might need it again."<br />
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Jesus taught us to, <i>"...give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."</i> Luke 6:38<br />
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Maybe our attitude should be to give that 1/2 away? And when we get to the point of being able to let go, that's when our cup overflows? Maybe the trick is to be in the attitude of giving, even when we don't think we could give anymore? Maybe that's when our cup will runneth over?<br />
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I love you<br />
MomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9016075605209489274.post-46952488152325455282012-01-05T06:30:00.000-08:002012-01-05T06:30:01.778-08:00Worth Knowing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.</i><br />
<i>Oscar Wilde</i><br />
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So, my beauties... what is worth knowing? Why can't it be taught? You're probably thinking if it's worth knowing and it can't be taught then why do I have to go to school? LOL!<br />
I will not be writing about how to skip school and still have an education. No this blog is not about dissing school or any other forms of education.<br />
Today's blog is all about experience.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ldZLX2V6fOaGKBxGB31akxg0XVvApL68hh3iPtVovjjmGwNmT7qRE1rif5TnRYNtg_xixd9CjAvExQ70pCGWn2TWXbFuLkl8ybxIemJ01GSnC9Rzbt43grOUtcuNcLCyIIKzOEXrFft/s1600/P1010005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ldZLX2V6fOaGKBxGB31akxg0XVvApL68hh3iPtVovjjmGwNmT7qRE1rif5TnRYNtg_xixd9CjAvExQ70pCGWn2TWXbFuLkl8ybxIemJ01GSnC9Rzbt43grOUtcuNcLCyIIKzOEXrFft/s320/P1010005.JPG" width="320" /></a>Look at the picture. You know this cat, don't you? Pharaoh, our bi-polar cat, has been with us for about 7 years now. Remember how cuddly she was at the SPCA? She would crawl right into your neck and purr in your ear; warm and friendly, we thought she was the nicest cat in the bunch. Then we brought her home.<br />
"Help!" You would yell out while she backed you into a corner and bit at your ankles. Her looks and her actions at the SPCA were deceiving, she was a different cat at home.<br />
We could have given up on her, like her last family, but we didn't. You guys worked out a plan to help each other out when the cat was on the prowl. If one of you was backed into a corner or being chased the other would throw a blanket over Pharaoh so your sis could get away. It was challenging at times, for there were moments when both of you were backed into that corner at the same time.<br />
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You know? You hugged each other a lot back then.<br />
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Pharaoh has changed over the years. We continued to love her, and take care of her, even though we didn't want to sometimes, because she could get pretty ornery. We had the scratches to prove it! So what made her change? I know age has a mellowed her out but, I believe unconditional love has played a major role in her turn around. We have changed as well. We learned to read her body language. We got to know when it was safe to touch her and when to let her go (when her teeth have a hold of your nose, it's a good sign to let her go). The two of you learned to work together to get out of a sharp situation.<br />
Some things can't be taught, it is only through experience that we learn them. So, what is worth knowing? A great many things, and you have your whole life ahead of you to learn them. At least, thanks to Pharaoh you have had a good start. Helping your sister in times of trouble and loving someone who is unlovely at times.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0