Thank You Queen Victoria

In  honor of  Queen Victoria we get a day off from work on Monday, which for a lot of us equals a three day weekend.  For me it is a four day weekend as I don't work Fridays.

As for the people in hospitality or essential services they don't all get these days off, and I feel badly for them, but I'm glad they are there just in case I am taken to the hospital or need to go out for dinner.

Lots of folks in Canada see this weekend as the official start of the summer season ,even though kids are still in school, and many people go to their cottages or go camping. 

We are doing yard work. 

Son number one has taken lots of "I'll be right back" when he notices something he has to photograph, and son number two has had a lots of  "but I thought we were done!" breaks. 

Even though for us it is a yard-working weekend it feels relaxing in our little corner of paradise and, who knows, if its not raining on Monday we might take the boat out onto the lake. 

Tomorrow we take six kids plus our own to H2O, a water park, in Kelowna.  I need to not answer the phone as the number of boys going are increasing each time it rings.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Come Dance With Me

My cousin, who lost her mom a few months ago, sent me this note that I've copied below and I had to admit guilt.  My intentions are good and,  while I do try to live life rather than have too many obligations tie me down,  these words made me realize that it's the people in our lives and how we spend time with them that makes us complete.

Her note (which I'm pretty sure she didn't write because there is no "Steve" in our family and I know her lips have touched ice cream) read as follows:

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

Think about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to them?
How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ' Jeopardy ' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Canadians cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

 If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

'Life may not be the party we hoped for.. but while we are here we might as well dance!

So everybody, gather round the people you love and put on your dancing shoes .

Pale and over 40

This morning talking to Adam I said something I thought was cool and thought he would think so too.
 I got a "you're pale and over 40 mom - give it up"

"Not my legs - they are still orange!"

http://beyondthegardengate-beth.blogspot.com

But on a happy note I work across the street from a close-outs retailer.  Usually its a lots of cheap plastic crap stuff but today I was so thrilled to see a transport truck pull up to his loading dock and off-load carts and carts of plants and bushes and shrubs and I am in gardeners heaven!

99 cent hostas, dahlias, asparagus (here I go again - overloading the vegetable garden!) $2.99 peace roses, climbing roses,  $1.49 astilbe, day lilies, asiatic lilies, a rainbow of assorted colors.  My office looks like a greenhouse it is so packed full and he (clear out retailer) is still opening boxes.   

I might be pale and over 40 but I can shop for bargains like a 20 year old!

And here are some beautiful house signs (I'm trying to win one!) that http://razmatazblog.blogspot.com is offering as a giveaway.  She has a great blog, lots of humor, great designs and is a lovely person.





http://www.ramsign.com/

It's my lunch hour and I am going back to the plant sale - I will need the truck to get home!

Today...

Started the day with Tan in a Can -  good idea if you want orange legs.

Shopped for a dress for an upcoming wedding - nothing looks good with orange legs

Allergic to some kind of garden weed - itchy bumps all over my hands, arms and ankles

Heavy frost is forecast for tonight - tomatoes will freeze

Archie (the Dog) dug up 6 newly planted shrubs - he must have thought the bone meal in the planting hole was buried treasure.

In a moment of weakness I told Adam we would take him and five of his friends to H20 on Sunday 

Having trouble typing with my swollen itchy fingers.

Ate an entire row of brownies that I made for Thursdays May Day Tea.  I'll make lemon squares tomorrow and practice restraint.    (Good luck with that)

Still unsure if I should load the kiln or leave well enough alone.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow just ........

There's Something Scary in the Water

Other peoples adventures are often more interesting  than my own.

My friend V and her husband went on a trip to Hawaii.  V doesn't swim and is afraid of water but she figured there is more to Hawaii than the ocean.

Around Day 4 V's husband insisted  on going snorkling.  After three days he had convinced her to at least go to the beach and consider it. She relented, assuming she could sit on the beach under a tree, read a book, sip a cooling beverage and have a great afternoon - which she did. 

That evening was filled with his recounting of the glorious underwater sights he had experienced that day.

Day 5 and V's husband wanted to go snorkling again.  But this time he insisted that she snorkle too.  She relented once again.  Equipment was rented and as she stood at the waters edge planning her foray into the deep blue it was decided that she would be better off paddling around in the shallows - nothing deeper than the bottom of the ocean bed touching her stomach as she floated/crawled.  As  time passed  V became more relaxed and adventurous.  The sea life was beautiful and it was all very calming and surreal.  She even made it out as far as waist deep and was thrilled with her accomplishment as she knew her husband would be too. 

She noticed him standing in the water and decided to go out and surprise him, his orange and blue swim shorts a bright beacon in the water. 

When she finally arrived where he was standing she stretched out her arm and, from behind, reached through his legs and gave him a wifely fondle. 

The man whose equipment she had cupped was surprisingly calm but definitely not her husband. 

She gasped, snorted, swallowed ocean water, coughed then ran, swam, moved as fast as she could in her rented flippers toward the beach and away from the humiliation.

It wasn't over.
 For the next six days whenever she saw the familiar stranger in the hotel lobby he gave an ever so slight smile and nod.

'But they were wearing the same swimming shorts!' she insisted.

Uh Huh.

Ahh the Weekend - Days of Rest

This is not my yard. 

www.butchartgardens.com

Last weekend we washed windows and it was so lovely for the few  days  hours that they were sparkling clean.

This is what has happened during those short seven days:

It rained.

Adam and two of his friends did 'breath-fog art' on three windows.

Archie (the dog) presses his nose against the panes when he looks out the windows - he's looked out of five windows several times this week. 

The birds have returned and, in the process of fattening up for mating season, they eat way too much food.  I am astounded how they can poop sideways!  Two upstairs windows got direct hits.

I cleaned them today but I was not happy.

Maybe if I had the husband put in some window boxes it would be enough of a distraction  from the unclean panes.

Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton's photostream  

www.familyhandyman.com

Its been warm here and this is what the creek drainage ditch looks like today.  I think I'll give the tax man a call.  He'll probably raise the rates because of the potential for  'free tree removal'.

I planted the rest of the garden today and once again I will have enough produce for the entire neighborhood.  I am resisting the urge (an exercise in futility) to plant potatoes  because of the potato beetles.  

I kept space available. 

These are the potato beetle larvae,  I get to squish those things if I plant potatoes.  Maybe if I keep looking at this picture the potatoes won't get planted.

Now I am going to ride my bike to the ATM as both boys 'need money for school tomorrow'.

And I thought education was free!

I read this somewhere and remember the words but don't recall who wrote it but it sums up my boys in these few lines:

"When his mom screeched that he treated the house like a hotel he called reception to complain about the maids attitude."

Keep it On!

Yesterday the skuttlebutt was all about the teen party at Nude Beach which prompted the curiosity of younger son to question why people would go naked in public.

Standard answers:

 Freedom of expression. 

 Freedom from binding clothes.

It is Gods natural form.

No tan lines

Why do we wear clothes then? he asks

Standard answers:

It's uncomfortable playing volleyball.

Barbequing chicken is dangerous and don't even consider frying bacon!

I wouldn't want anyone to sit on my furniture - I do laundry and I know what goes on.

You don't have any pockets to keep necessities.

It's difficult to suck in your stomach for that length of time

and

Trust me - you don't want to see your parents (or your boss) naked.


He gives the look like I've crossed the line..............

We're Going Out, We're Taking Food and my Son Hates Me!

We have been invited to a going away party this evening and were asked to bring snacks.  I am so excited because I love to eat and I love to make things in my kitchen.

I made pepper jelly.

This is really easy to do and I hate to pay $7.00 for a  1 cup jar of it.  That's the price of it in BC, it might be cheaper in your part of the world and maybe it would taste better (but I don't think so). There is a certain feeling of accomplishment to be able to make it yourself. 

Here's the recipe if you have some spare time.

Hot Pepper Jelly

Sterilize 3 one cup jars

Place jar rings in simmering water. - keep lid rings on the side

Heat water in a canning pot (that has a rack) to boiling.

1/3 cup Dried Apricots - chopped into small pieces

3/4 Vinegar

1/4 cup Red Onion - chopped into small pieces

1/4 cup Sweet Red Pepper also chopped into fine pieces

1/4 cup finely chopped Habanero Pepper (with seeds)

   (you can sub with Jalapeno which are pretty mild or Scotch Bonnet which are not)

3 cups White Sugar

1 pouch of Liquid Pectin (85 ml or 3.5 oz or 5 tbsps)

Chop apricots and let soak in the vinegar until they are plumped (about 3 hours) or not.  I've made these when I couldn't come back in three hours and it was still delicious.

Mix with remaining vegetables in a big stainless pot and stir in the sugar.  Bring this to a boil (a big, scary, rolling boil) over high heat  and then stir in the pectin. Its a bit difficult to squish out the pectin AND stir so I usually turn the heat off the pot so it doesn't burn or boil over on to my stove. When that's done,  bring everything back to a rolling boil and stir for one minute.  Remove pot from heat.  Pour into the jars, wipe the tops if there are drips,  seal with lids and rings (not too tight) and put into a canning bath.  Process in the canner for about 14 minutes after the water has returned to a boil. Remove  and let cool on a rack.  You will hear a "pop" as each jar lid seals. 

Serve this with crackers and cream cheese, use it to baste onto pork tenderloin, spoon it over hot dogs, or cut cross hatchs into brie cheese wheel,  dollop hot pepper jelly on top of the brie and microwave for one min til everything is melty and gooey (thats what I'm doing with this one tonight) and serve with crackers.

This is also a good thing to have on hand as it makes a great hostess gift.

I am also taking these pinwheels  because they are my boys favorites and as I leaving them (the boys) at home I will leave them (the boys) with some of these. 

One of my boys is pi$$ed at me because I won't let him go to an "all-nighter" at nude beach.  No one will be nude (I'm pretty sure as its only about 9 degrees out) but it's about 2 miles from a road.  It's not really a beach more like an outcropping of rocks on the lake and the kids are all in the 15 - 17 year old range unless older kids hear about it and show up. (Facebook, you ruin many small gatherings) and I would be kidding myself if I thought there would be no alcohol there.  If they fall in the lake, well certain disaster I'm sure, and how will the ambulance get in there and will there be cell service.  (Am I sounding too much like a mom?) 

Anyway, he's not going and he's not happy.

I know these won't cheer him up but, sigh, maybe he'll like me better tomorrow.

Mexican Pinwheels

1 8 oz (250 g) pkg Cream Cheese

2 tbsp Mayonnaise

1 large Garlic Clove - finely chopped

1 tsp Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Cumin Powder

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 cup Salsa (I use hot)

5 8" Flour Tortillas

Let cream cheese some to room temperature add in rest of ingredients not including the tortillas.  Cover and place in the fridge for  an hour and half or so.  Spread mixture onto tortillas and roll up tightly.  Cut off the ends.  Refrigerate until firm.  Slice and place under the broiler until golden and crispy.

You can use this as a dip for tortilla chips also.

And keeping with the Mexican theme I made some Mexican Paletas (Ice Pops).

I could not find my regular ice pop molds and have a nasty feeling that husband put them in the garage sale but I did find the molds I used when the boys were little so I used those. 

The ones that are banana raspberry flavor look a little bit like penises so I'm not posting a picture.

Banana Raspberry Paletas

1 cup Milk

3/4 cup (about 2) ripe Bananas

1 cup frozen Raspberries

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Malibu Rum

 Put everything into a blender and blend on high speed untuil everything is smooth and creamy.  Strain to remove any annoying seeds.  Pour liquid into molds.  Freeze about 10 hours.

Changing the World - One Person at a Time

Yesterday I wrote that my son's 16 year old friend got a car for her birthday and now I'd like to tell you a bit about her parents.

They did not grow up wanting - both were raised in very comfortable environments.  Both went to university and got degrees in the medical profession.  He works as a family physician and she is a stay at home mom.  They had three children.
Her cousin  was raised in a completely different environment had a baby at a young age but drugs and alcohol had already become  her life. Social services didn't want her to raise her child and were putting him into foster care.  So my sons friends mom and dad intervened and adopted the boy when he was around four and had already seen more than a four year old should.

 He gets to vacation to Hawaii, Disney World,  Palm Springs and they have a pool in their back yard, but his life is pretty regular too. He plays hockey,  gets his homework done, has friends for sleepovers and has to clean his room.

I wonder how his life would have been otherwise.

So many would say, big deal, they have the time and the funds but I am not sure I would have the courage to do what they did.
 I just love it when something good happens to someone.

Oh yeah,  he'll also get a car when he turns 16 .

My son secretly wishes they would adopt him too.

Maple, Pear Bread Pudding

Heat oven to 350 deg F

1 tbsp. Butter
4 Eggs
1 c. Milk
1/3 c. Whipping Cream
1/4 c. Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
*5 cups dense Bread (Dense -not slow to catch on but thick and heavy)
1 Pear, peeled and diced
1/4 c. Raisins

Butter 6 - 6 oz. ramekins. Set aside.
Fill kettle with water and bring to a boil.

In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, milk, whipping cream, maple syrup and cinnamon. Whisk.
Add the bread, pear and raisins to the mixture and stir until completely combined. Let the bread soak up most of the egg mixture. Go vacuum the living room while you wait.
Divide equally among the ramekins.
Place the dishes in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold all six.
Put in the oven. Pour boiling water into the baking dish to come about 1/3 way up the edge of the ramekins.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until puffed and light golden.

Remove from oven. Let sit for 10 - 15 minutes and serve warm with additional maple syrup, a big blob of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream or all of the above. This is good cold too.

The Sweet Smell of a Bargain

I  was in a store a couple of months ago and found some really lovely shoes displayed on the shelf and was startled when I saw the price.  $19.99.  I tried one shoe on. It felt really good.  I put the other shoe on and walked around a bit.  Gee, they were comfy! I wondered if at $19.99 the heel would fall off the first time they got wet.  Oh well, they are under $20.00, I would give them a try.  Box under my arm, off I marched to the check out counter.

Next day, on went the new shoes. 

 Driving to work I noticed a definite smell of gas and worried that perhaps the fuel pump was going on my car.  I arrived at work , grabbed a coffee,  sat at my desk and noticed that the smell of petroleum was still with me.  After thirty minutes or so I had a headache and my nostrils and throat were burning. 

 I decided is wasn't residue from my car.    I took a shoe off my foot and gave it a sniff . 

 Just as I thought - it was my cheap shoes that smelled.  

I had a meeting to attend out of the building  and as I was walking along the street I worried that any small  spark would ignite the gassy shoes and I would burst into flames.

Since that day the shoes have been airing out  on my deck.  

I have sprayed them with Febreze,  I have washed them in soap and water,  I have filled them with activated charcoal.  They still smell like petroleum. 

They are just so cute and so comfortable and so impossible to wear!

$19.99 shoes now on a direct path to the trash bin.  It is a sad day.


This is not my shoe - this is a Jimmy Choo shoe.

It's All Peculiar

I was standing in line behind someone digging through her purse looking for something and the cashier said 'it's always the last place you look"

Of course it is, why would you continue looking.

An aquaintance said to our boys a few days ago  "yesterday you were 2 feet tall" - hmmm, that was a big growth spurt.

Yesterday...

Not Yesterday....

This is how my horoscope read today - 

You might have trouble with your plumbing today, Virgo, particularly if you have a big kitchen. This is too complex a problem to handle yourself. Pay the money to have a professional take care of the problem.

 

This slowed me down a bit - at first glance,  I took the "plumbing" to mean personal plumbing and thought "my kitchen is  not so big that I couldn't make to to the facilities". 

 I think I should stop reading those things.  And my plumbing is just fine, by the way.

Today I bought Marigolds - I don't care for marigolds .

My son's friend, Lauren, turned 16 today, and got a 2010 Corolla .  Could he have one when he's 16?  HA!

The Bathtub Test

  During a visit to the doctor, he was asked, "How do you
determine whether  or not an older person should be put in an old age home?"

"Well," he said, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a
teaspoon, a  teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand,"    "A normal person would use the
bucket  because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No" he said. "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you
want a bed  near the window?"

Whew!

What a Day!

First we off-loaded three pallets of retaining wall blocks at 80 lbs a piece.  Then we moved them to the area where the retaining wall will eventually be built.  My thighs are dotted with ninety degree shaped bruises from the corners of the blocks.

They will go here to contain my red currants and holly - I will cut down the thorny rose bush when husband is sleeping.

 Next I planted some seeds in my vegetable garden - spinach, peas, beets, and radish - can't plant everything yet as we could (will)  get frost.

Then I shoveled soil, manure and compost into the new raised bed for the strawberries and then planted the strawberries.  I went into the house and made lemon squares, matrimonial square and lava cakes. 

The sun was shining so we washed 23 windows and one patio door, inside and out.  There are too many to insert pictures.

Then we had lunch.  Leftovers.

Did the dishes, did a load of laundry, washed the bathroom floors.   Cleaned up some flower beds, cut back last years perennials and raked up the debris.  Visited with the neighbors, walked the dog and started dinner. 

Now its raining. 

I'm a bit annoyed  about the rain hitting my nice squeeky clean windows but, never mind, inside they are still beautiful. 

 Standing at the barbeque, yelling at my family (they are inside and quite warm and dry) that "someone should take a picture of me on mothers day standing out in the pouring rain, getting soaked, while making you dinner!".

Went inside, had a cocktail which tasted like two, ate dinner, did the dishes and now I'm going to go into my pottery room.  But guilt, and annoyance, is hanging over my head - an old boss gave me two Olympic hoodies that he wants full zippers put in because "you know how to sew" . 

As for Mothers Day treats, I did get coffee in bed this morning, but that's not so unusual,  I get coffee in bed every morning.  What a guy, he treats me special every day!

They will be in So Much Trouble

I am not big on celebrating special days.  Birthdays, anniversaries, and such.  I don't need gifts or cards and really could just let the day slide by.  A few years ago husband said to me,  "don't we have an anniversary coming up?"  

I checked the calendar.

"Yes, two weeks ago"

At the beginning of our relationship we bought each other presents.  My first gift from him for my birthday was tires; the second was a tune up for my car.  Several years later nothing has changed - this year, for Christmas, I got a new dishwasher.

People expect me to be offended as above mentioned items are on most peoples "This Is Not A Gift!" list.

Not me though - I love getting stuff like that.

I'll take a blender over a bouquet of roses any day .

But the gifts, or the husband, are not the problem.

The problem is the standard I am setting for my boys.  They think everyone is like I am.  They are in for a big awakening. 
A woman I know didn't speak to her husband for two weeks when she didn't get a card for Valentine's Day.  Harsh.

 I know that I am not setting a good example for my boys with their future spouses.  

 So,  sorry boys!
 I hope you are not in the dog house too many times before you learn.




They did ask me what I would like for mothers day and I said,  "I'd like everyone to help me wash the windows tomorrow."

Forecast says heavy rains and, darn it, I knew I shouldn't have specified "tomorrow"!

Hey You Mothers!

When God Created Mothers

by Erma Bombeck

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into his sixth day of “overtime” when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, “Have you read the specs on this order?

• She has to be completely washable, but not plastic;
• Have 180 movable parts... all replaceable;
• Run on black coffee and leftovers;
• Have a lap that disappears when she stands up;
• A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair;
• And six pairs of hands.”

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands... no way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” said the Lord. “It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.”

“That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. “One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, ’What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, ’I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, “Go to bed. Tomorrow...”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick... can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger... and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.

“But she’s tough!” said the Lord excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure.”

“Can it think?”

“Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You You were trying to push too much into this model.”

“It’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.”

“What’s it for?”

“It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.”

Have a great weekend and I hope your Mothers Day is a happy one!

All of us have moments in our lives that test our courage. Taking children into a house with white carpet is one of them.

-- Erma Bombeck

Where in the World

The following is an article from MSN.ca

http://travel.ca.msn.com/international/photogallery.

Upon hearing its name, it doesn't seem to be the kind of town you would exactly be comfortable telling your mom about. But as many curious tourists have discovered, Dildo, Newfoundland is actually the kind of place you can take your mom and entire family to - only you might get tomato-faced if kids ask about that, uh, name.


Named one of Canada's prettiest towns, the charming historical fishing village was founded in the late 1700s with a history dating back to the time of its early residents, the Maritime Archaic aboriginal people, in 2,000 B.C. No one can say for sure how it got its moniker. It's believed the place was named after Dildo Arm, or Dildo Harbour. Theories range from a Spanish sailor with that name who had visited the area to its more blush-worthy definition, the phallus. Dildonians are nonetheless proud of their town, refusing to change its name, even as it has brought both fame and notoriety, with plenty of wisecracks in between.












This just doesn't seem right.


This article got me thinking that there might be other towns where you might be somewhat embarrased to give out your address. Not trying to poke fun at you if you live in one of these towns (okay maybe that's not true) here are a few, and these are Canada only. What about the rest of the world!


There is Ta Ta Creek, British Columbia; Stand Off, Alberta; Climax, Saskatchewan





There's also a Primate, Sask; Plenty, Sask which is surprisingly close to Biggar, Sask.; Finger, Manitoba; Ochiichagwebabigoining, Ontario (huh?);

Saint-Loius-du-Ha-Ha! , Quebec;





Pokemouche, New Brunswick; Crapaud, Prince Edward Island; Roachvale, Nova Scotia and Jerry's Nose, Newfoundland.


The population of some of these places is quite small - which is not surprising.

Who says "Hey! let's move to Wawa"






Apparently its safer to live in Swastika, Ontario than in Asbestos, Quebec.


I grew up in a community called Steel Bridge which was very close to a community called Golden Stream......

Yikes.

Meet me in Miami

I was reading a news article today about two brothers who met by chance after 30 some odd years.  One recognized the US east coast accent of the other and started listing off names from a particular town to see if they knew anyone in common when they realized  they were brothers who were separated at a very young age.  Here is a link to the story

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_17948275

It reminded me of a chance meeting a man I worked with told me.

Meyer was born in Poland and when he was very young  his father died.   He and his 6 brothers and sisters all worked to keep their mother and family fed and housed.  Meyer worked for a shoe cobbler until, at the age of 14,  was taken to a concentration camp along with the rest of his family.  At the end of the war Meyer and his brothers were the only surviving members of the family.  He came to Winnipeg and his brother went to New York.  He married, had a son and worked long hard hours in his own clothing manufacturing business.  He sold the business at the age of 68 when his wife was taken ill with cancer but still managed to come in to work every day (this is the point at which I met him).  After his Sadie passed away his friends tried year after year to get him to go to Miami with them, where they all wintered, but Meyer felt it wasn't a place for him.  One year, after much perstering by his friends, he gave in and off he went. 

By this time he was in his late seventies and was not happy to be in Miami.  He didn't like the activities, didn't care for hotel living and felt "third wheel" in the midst of couples.  One early morning, 5 or 5:30, he decided to go for a walk on the beach "when it wasn't covered with half naked bodies"  and saw an elderly man struggling to get back up the beach to the sidewalk. The slope of the beach and the looseness of the sand where making progress for this gentleman impossible.  Meyer decided to help him .   The old man was annoyed when Meyer tried to take his arm to assist and let fly a few words. 

Meyer said "I recognize that accent, where are you from?"  The old man said Kielce, in Poland.  Meyer said,  "Thats were I lived.  I worked for a cobbler there, maybe you know him?'  The old man looked at Meyer and said "I am him"

So keep your accent - you never know when your world will collide with someone from your past.

And wear your sun screen.

Dancers in the Creek

The snow is melting in the mountains and this little area at the front of our property has started  to
fill with water.

 I love the sound of water rushing over the rocks.  In about two weeks the water will be running so fast we will hear the sounds of the rocks tumbling in the fast moving water.  It won't be so peaceful then. 

 The water will get really deep and I will wonder if it will wash away our little bridge so that I won't be able to get to work and will have a day off (or days off) but that is wishful thinking as it never gets that high or rushes through that fast.  

When the weather warms, and the mountain snow is gone,  the water levels lower. The boys get out the tubes and boogie boards, put on their helmets and float down the stream - actually its more like 'shoot down the rapids'.
Their own little white water experience.

  There will be no water in it by the middle of July.

Recently the property tax people tried to increase our taxes.  Along with a few other reasons one was that  we had a "creek" on our property and it was an asset. 

"Not an asset " I said. " a liability.  Dangerous".

  "Furthermore" I said "its not really a creek, it's a seasonal drainage ditch".  

"We call it a creek." he said

"You can call a stripper a dancer but she still won't get a job with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet". I said.

Property Taxes remain the same.

Hey Terri - Call me..

I am pretty successful at growing plants.  Indoor, outdoor, trees, flowers, shrubs and I love them all.

Several years ago (twenty or twenty five) a  friend wanted her dead plant collection resurrected.  Could I help?  I knew it was an effort in futility but I thought , she asked - I would try.  I was a bit confused about her request as the plants were very common, cheap to replace and had no sentimental value. 

 She brought the plants to me - some she had tried to drown, others were desert-dry, most had no green on them at all.

We had coffee and a visit and off she went, her words trailing off into the night.  "Don't worry if you kill them" 

Huh?

They did not revive.

She was not despondent and did not want her plant pots back.  She was giving up on plants.  I paid no attention to the pots, washed them up and put them in my storage room for the next time I would need a container .  A few years later I packed up my things and moved to BC.  

Fast forward to two weeks ago when I was digging through boxes of crap treasures for the garage sale items, I  found her bowl.

Interesting designs, beautiful colors.  Why hadn't I noticed it before?  I flipped it over as potters do and on the bottom read Danico Made in Denmark 171 J.

http://users.telenet.be/janart/danish/Horsens.html

I think this bowl was made in the early 1900's and I think I should track her down and return it.  So Terri, where are you now?  What is your married name and should I mail it to you or will you come and pick it up?

Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.
Erma Bombeck

Can't She Control those Kids!

Children are like tattoos. You see other peoples' & they're cool, but yours are never as good & you can't get rid of them.

My friend gave me a dressmakers form.  It was her moms, who has passed away, and as my friend does not sew she asked me if I wanted to have it.  I said not for myself but I thought I knew of someone who might like it. 
This young person wants to be a dress designer and having a try-on model who stands patiently and doesn't offer up opinions is perfect.  Turns out this young person has changed their mind on becoming a dress designer and doesn't want the form after all.  I will be giving it to our high school

However..... until I am able to take it to the school this is what this dress form has been up to thanks to my boys.

She hides around corners.

She hides in closets.

  She hides in the bathroom shower. 

All the time dressed like this!

They say they love me - but sometimes I wonder....